Tooth Whitening - The Do’s and Dont's
Stained yellow teeth put you at a disadvantage in a few social situations. Given there is much competition in both business and social situations, it is surely useful to look as presentable as possible to be successful. Stained yellow teeth, which are so easily remedied, shouldn't get in the way of you being successful. The advantages of tooth whitening are numerous - extending to your business, social and personal life.
Tooth Whitening Tradeoffs
- Do you want as little pain and/or side effects as possible? Then choose a dentist-supervised, personalized fitted tray whitening method.
- Do you desire to spend as little as possible? Then choose an over the counter kit, but be prepared to carry out everything yourself.
- Do you like as little gum irritation as possible? Then opt for a minimal concentration of carbamide peroxide in the whitening gel.
- Do you require or want tooth whitening as quick as possible? Then opt for the the latest laser treatment to be had at a dentist’s office.
Some Tricks of the Trade
If you decide to proceed with the Tooth Whitening process, also make sure you do the following Therabreath Recommendations to get the best results:
- Apply some aloe vera juice to your gums. Then, just before whitening, for two minutes brush your teeth with oxygenating toothpaste plus some good natural polishing agents.
- The best home tooth whitening systems use a moldable tray system containing a mouthpiece you can personally fit to your mouth. You mold them by soaking them for a few seconds in warm water, then you press the plastic down or up against your teeth and gums. When the plastic cools you have a nice fitting, soft plastic mouthpiece that is just right for your particular teeth and face.
- Use a strong teeth whitening gel to ensure that the time your teeth are in contact with the whitening gel is well spent. Use a 21% carbamide peroxide concentrated teeth whitening gel, not containing any glycerin, that will enable a reduction in the sensitivity of your teeth and gums.
- Immediately following the teeth whitening treatment, augment the result by using an oxygenating oral rinse. Do not use a mouthwash containing alcohol, as this can in reality reduce the bleaching effect.
- Follow this teeth whitening system for several days consecutively.
Some Side Effects
With a few at-home kits, you run the risk of burning your gums, or making them sore. In the case of tooth whitening, as in most areas, you get what you pay for. Two side effects repeatedly seen are irritation of the soft mouth tissues (the gums) and an increase in tooth sensitivity. Irritation of the mouth tissues frequently is caused by a poorly fitted mouthpiece tray and not the tooth bleaching chemical. To remedy the mouth tissue irritation, various treatment options could be followed. These include wearing the tray for a shorter time span, halting the procedure for two-three days, or use of a high fluoride gel to add to the tray, thus assisting in re-mineralizing the teeth.
The second side effect seen is tooth sensitivity. A few affected individuals can’t stand to speak because the airflow hurts their teeth. If you start undergoing tooth sensitivity, see your dentist immediately. Also, you can brush with toothpaste specially formulated for sensitive teeth.
Your Treatment Options
You have a choice of treatment options of differing cost and effectiveness:
- Over the counter gels ($15) and whitening strips ($10 - $55 for a 14-day treatment)
- Tray-based tooth whitening systems ($20 - $150)
- Dentist administered home bleaching systems ($300 - $600)
Compare the full, dentist supervised procedure to an over the counter tooth whitening product, where you are completely on your own. With the dentist administered tooth whitening, your oral cavity and gums are guarded from bleaching effects. The dentist can determine the optimal type of stain to match your unique set of dental restorations. Most significantly, your dentist will make an individualized mouthpiece tray, precisely fitted to your mouth. This results in maximal exposure of your teeth to the whitening agent and miniscule pain to your gums and oral tissue.
Who should not Start Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening might achieve some remarkable results and could well be worth the cost and time involved. But then, tooth whitening is not for everyone. The list below indicates those who shouldn't engage in this technique:
- Children under the age of 16
- Pregnant/lactating women
- Darkly stained teeth (grayish or purple-stained teeth)
- Those with fillings or dental restorations.
- Persons with exposed roots, cavities, gum disease, worn enamel
- Individuals having allergies and sensitive teeth
- Individuals with unrealistic expectations
- Teeth with dark gray stains or crowns
Regarding unrealistic expectations, understand that the whitening of your teeth will lead to a color slightly whiter than the whites of your eyes. Any further expectation of the outcome of tooth whitening is simply outside the bounds of present techniques.
Determine what your tradeoffs might be! When opting for a whitener you should look for the ADA Seal for safety and effectiveness. Tooth whiteners, gels or strips contain carbamide or hydrogen peroxide as the active bleaching ingredients.
Recall, to cause those newly whitened teeth to persist longer post-whitening, make sure you do the following:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day!
- Floss on a daily basis
- Quit smoking!
- Make every effort to steer clear of soft drinks and high coffee consumption
- Use a top notch, effective mouth rinse
If you have a further interest in tooth whitening, you may also want to review whitelight tooth whitening or additionally teeth whitening patches .
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