Tooth Whitening - The Do’s and Dont's
Stained yellow teeth, that are so simply remedied, should not get in the way of you being successful. The advantages of tooth whitening are many - extending to your business, social and personal life. Stained yellow teeth put you at a disadvantage in certain social circumstances. Given there is much competition in both business and social situations, it is certainly useful to appear as presentable as possible to be successful.
Some Side Effects
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 remedy the mouth tissue irritation, various treatment options could be followed. These include wearing the tray for a shorter time span, putting off 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 a few at-home kits, you run the risk of burning your gums, or making them sore. In the situation of tooth whitening, as in many areas, you get what you pay for.
The second side effect observed is tooth sensitivity. A few affected people can’t stand to talk because the airflow hurts their teeth. When and if you start having tooth sensitivity, see your dentist immediately. Also, you can brush with toothpaste specially formulated for sensitive teeth.
Your Treatment Choices
You have a selection 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 supervised home bleaching systems ($300 - $600)
With the dentist supervised 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 notably, your dentist will 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 desire as little pain and/or side effects as possible? Then choose a dentist-supervised, tailored fitted tray whitening technique.
- Do you desire to spend as little as possible? Then select an over the counter kit, but be prepared to do 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 want or want tooth whitening as quick as possible? Then opt for the the latest laser treatment obtainable at a dentist’s office.
Some Tricks of the Trade
If you choose 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. At that time, just before whitening, for two minutes brush your teeth with oxygenating toothpaste combined with 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 subsequent to the teeth whitening treatment, improve the result by using an oxygenating oral rinse. Don't use a mouthwash containing alcohol, as this can in reality reduce the bleaching effect.
- Follow this teeth whitening system for several days consecutively.
Determine what your tradeoffs might be! When selecting 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.
Who should not Start Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening might achieve some remarkable results and may well be worth the cost and time involved. But then, tooth whitening is not for everybody. 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)
- People with fillings or dental restorations.
- Persons with exposed roots, cavities, gum disease, worn enamel
- Individuals having allergies and sensitive teeth
- People 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 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.
Recall, to make those newly whitened teeth to last longer post-whitening, make sure you do the following:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day!
- Floss on a daily basis
- Quit smoking!
- Try 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 tooth whitening systems or additionally white teeth .
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