Tooth Whitening - The Do’s and Dont's
Stained yellow teeth put you at a disadvantage in particular social circumstances. Given there is a good amount of competition in both business and social situations, it is certainly useful to look as presentable as achievable to be successful. The bonuses of tooth whitening are many - extending to your business, social and personal life. Stained yellow teeth, which are so simply remedied, should not get in the way of you being successful.
Determine what your tradeoffs are! When selecting 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.
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 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 along 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 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 allow a reduction in the sensitivity of your teeth and gums.
- Right away after the teeth whitening treatment, enhance the result by using an oxygenating oral rinse. Do not use a mouthwash containing alcohol, as this can in fact lower the bleaching effect.
- Follow this teeth whitening system for several days consecutively.
Specific 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 lessen the mouth tissue irritation, various treatment options could be followed. These include wearing the tray for a shorter time period, halting the procedure for two-three days, or use of a high fluoride gel to augment the tray, thus assisting in re-mineralizing the teeth. With certain 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 seen is tooth sensitivity. A few affected people can’t stand to talk due to the fact that the airflow hurts their teeth. When and 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 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)
Compare the full, dentist supervised procedure to an over the counter tooth whitening product, where you are totally on your own. 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 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 minimal pain to your gums and oral tissue.
Who should not Start Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening can achieve some remarkable results and may well be worth the cost and time involved. Yet, tooth whitening is not for all of us. The list below suggests 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)
- Individuals with fillings or dental restorations.
- Individuals 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, recognize 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 present techniques.
Tooth Whitening Tradeoffs
- Do you desire as minimal pain and/or side effects as possible? Then pick a dentist-supervised, customized fitted tray whitening approach.
- Do you desire to spend as little as possible? Then select an over the counter kit, but be ready to achieve everything yourself.
- Do you want as little gum irritation as possible? Then opt for a low concentration of carbamide peroxide in the whitening gel.
- Do you want or want tooth whitening as quick as possible? Then opt for the latest laser treatment to be had at a dentist’s office.
Recall, 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 steer clear of 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 bleach or in addition teeth whitening dentists .
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