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, that are so simply remedied, shouldn't get in the way of you being successful. Stained yellow teeth put you at a disadvantage in selected social circumstances. Given there is much competition in both business and social situations, it is with out a doubt useful to look as presentable as possible to be successful.
Who should not Start Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening could achieve some remarkable results and could well be worth the cost and time involved. However, tooth whitening is not for everybody. The list below indicates those that 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.
- Individuals 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, recognize that the whitening of your teeth will lead to a color somewhat whiter than the whites of your eyes. Any other expectation of the outcome of tooth whitening is just outside the bounds of present techniques.
Some Side Effects
Two side effects often 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 remedy the mouth tissue irritation, several 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. With some at-home kits, you run the chance of burning your gums, or making them sore. In the case of tooth whitening, as in most areas, you get what you pay for.
The second side effect seen is tooth sensitivity. A few affected individuals can’t stand to talk because the airflow hurts their teeth. When and if you start having tooth sensitivity, see your dentist right away. Also, you can brush with toothpaste specially formulated for sensitive teeth.
Your Treatment Choices
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)
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 notably, 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 minimal pain to your gums and oral tissue. Compare the full, dentist supervised process to an over the counter tooth whitening product, where you are completely on your own.
Determine what your tradeoffs are! 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.
Tooth Whitening Tradeoffs
- Do you want as little pain and/or side effects as possible? Then choose a dentist-supervised, customized fitted tray whitening approach.
- Do you wish to spend as little as possible? Then choose an over the counter kit, but be ready to achieve 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 newest laser treatment obtainable 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 push the plastic down or up against your teeth and gums. When the plastic cools you have a fine 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.
- Right away following the teeth whitening treatment, improve 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.
Remember, to cause those newly whitened teeth to go on longer post-whitening, make sure you carry out 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 high 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 comparisons or additionally bright teeth .
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