Tooth Whitening - The Do’s and Dont's
Stained yellow teeth put you at a disadvantage in selected social circumstances. Considering there is a good amount of competition in both business and social circumstances, it is undoubtedly useful to look as presentable as achievable to be successful. Stained yellow teeth, which are so easily remedied, shouldn't get in the way of you being successful. The benefits of tooth whitening are many - extending to your business, social and personal life.
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 obtain the finest results:
- Apply some aloe vera juice to your gums. Then, just before whitening, for two minutes brush your teeth with oxygenating toothpaste combined with some good natural polishing agents.
- The better 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 superb 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 after the teeth whitening treatment, augment the result by using an oxygenating oral rinse. Don't use a mouthwash containing alcohol, as this can actually reduce the bleaching effect.
- Follow this teeth whitening system for several days consecutively.
Some Side Effects
With some at-home kits, you run the chance of burning your gums, or making them sore. In the situation of tooth whitening, as in many 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, several treatment options could be followed. These include wearing the tray for a shorter time period, halting the process 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 observed is tooth sensitivity. Some affected individuals can’t stand to talk because the airflow hurts their teeth. 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 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 supervised 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 protected from bleaching effects. The dentist can determine the optimal type of stain to meet your unique set of dental restorations. Most notably, your dentist will make an individualized mouthpiece tray, exactly 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.
Tooth Whitening Tradeoffs
- Do you like as little pain and/or side effects as possible? Then pick a dentist-supervised, tailored fitted tray whitening approach.
- Do you want to spend as little as possible? Then pick 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 need or want tooth whitening as quick as possible? Then opt for the latest laser treatment accessible at a dentist’s office.
Who should not Start Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening could achieve some remarkable results and should well be worth the cost and time involved. But then, tooth whitening is not for everyone. The list below suggests those that should not 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
- Those having allergies and sensitive teeth
- Individuals with unrealistic expectations
- Teeth with dark gray stains or crowns
Regarding 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 simply outside the bounds of current techniques.
Determine what your tradeoffs are! When choosing 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.
Remember, to make those newly whitened teeth to go on longer post-whitening, make sure you do the following:
- Brush your teeth minimally twice a day!
- Floss on a daily basis
- Quit smoking!
- Try to stay away from soft drinks and excessive coffee consumption
- Use a decent, effective mouth rinse
If you have a further interest in tooth whitening, you may also want to review teeth whitening comparisons or additionally ionic white light activated tooth whitening system .
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