Tooth Whitening - The Do’s and Dont's
The bonuses of tooth whitening are many - extending to your business, social and personal life. Stained yellow teeth put you at a disadvantage in some social situations. Considering there is much competition in both business and social situations, it is surely useful to appear as presentable as possible to be successful. Stained yellow teeth, that are so simply remedied, shouldn't get in the way of you being successful.
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 attain the finest results:
- Apply some aloe vera juice to your gums. At that time, 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 push 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 allow 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 fact decrease the bleaching effect.
- Follow this teeth whitening system for several days consecutively.
Who should not Start Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening might achieve some remarkable results and should well be worth the cost and time involved. However, tooth whitening is not for everybody. The list below indicates those who should not 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.
- Those with exposed roots, cavities, gum disease, worn enamel
- Those having allergies and sensitive teeth
- Individuals with unrealistic expectations
- Teeth with dark gray stains or crowns
In regards to unrealistic expectations, understand that the whitening of your teeth will lead to a color slightly whiter than the whites of your eyes. Any other expectation of the outcome of tooth whitening is just outside the bounds of current techniques.
Some Side Effects
With some at-home kits, you run the possibility of burning your gums, or making them sore. In the situation of tooth whitening, as in most areas, you get what you pay for. Two side effects frequently seen are irritation of the soft mouth tissues (the gums) and an increase in tooth sensitivity. Irritation of the mouth tissues often is caused by a poorly fitted mouthpiece tray and not the tooth bleaching chemical. To lessen the mouth tissue irritation, various treatment options could be followed. These include wearing the tray for a shorter time span, suspending the process for two-three days, or use of a high fluoride gel to augment the tray, thus assisting in re-mineralizing the teeth.
The second side effect observed is tooth sensitivity. Some affected individuals can’t stand to speak because the airflow hurts their teeth. If you start undergoing tooth sensitivity, see your dentist right away. Also, you can brush with toothpaste specially formulated for sensitive teeth.
Your Treatment Options
You have a selection of treatment options of varying 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 supervised home bleaching systems ($300 - $600)
With the dentist administered tooth whitening, your oral cavity and gums are protected 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 be able to make a customized mouthpiece tray, precisely fitted to your mouth. This results in maximal exposure of your teeth to the whitening agent and little pain to your gums and oral tissue. Compare the full, dentist supervised procedure to an over the counter tooth whitening product, where you are totally on your own.
Tooth Whitening Tradeoffs
- Do you want as little pain and/or side effects as possible? Then choose a dentist-supervised, tailored fitted tray whitening process.
- Do you want to spend as little as possible? Then choose an over the counter kit, but be prepared to do everything yourself.
- Do you want as little gum irritation as possible? Then opt for a minimal concentration of carbamide peroxide in the whitening gel.
- Do you need or want tooth whitening as quick as possible? Then opt for the the latest laser treatment obtainable at a dentist’s office.
Determine what your tradeoffs might be! When choosing a whitener you ought to 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 make those newly whitened teeth to go on 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 avoid soft drinks and excessive coffee consumption
- Use a good, effective mouth rinse
If you have a further interest in tooth whitening, you may also want to review teeth whitening tips or in addition teeth whitening coupons .
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