Tooth Whitening - The Do’s and Dont's
Stained yellow teeth put you at a disadvantage in some social circumstances. Considering there is much competition in both business and social situations, it is undoubtedly useful to look as presentable as achievable to be successful. The bonuses of tooth whitening are numerous - 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.
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 frequently 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, suspending the procedure for two-three days, or use of a high fluoride gel to add to the tray, thus assisting in re-mineralizing the teeth. With a few at-home kits, you run the chance of burning your gums, or making them sore. In the situation of tooth whitening, as in most areas, you get what you pay for.
The second side effect seen is tooth sensitivity. Some affected people can’t stand to talk because the airflow hurts their teeth. If you start experiencing 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)
With the dentist administered tooth whitening, your oral cavity and gums are secure from bleaching effects. The dentist can determine the optimal type of stain to meet your unique set of dental restorations. Most significantly, 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 miniscule pain to your gums and oral tissue. Compare the full, dentist supervised process to an over the counter tooth whitening product, where you are totally on your own.
Determine what your tradeoffs are! When deciding on 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 can achieve some remarkable results and may well be worth the cost and time involved. However, tooth whitening is not for everybody. The list below shows 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)
- People with fillings or dental restorations.
- Persons with exposed roots, cavities, gum disease, worn enamel
- Those having allergies and sensitive teeth
- People 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 additional expectation of the outcome of tooth whitening is just outside the bounds of present techniques.
Tooth Whitening Tradeoffs
- Do you want as little pain and/or side effects as possible? Then choose a dentist-supervised, customized fitted tray whitening process.
- Do you want 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 minimal concentration of carbamide peroxide in the whitening gel.
- Do you need or want tooth whitening as quick as possible? Then opt for the new laser treatment accessible at a dentist’s office.
Some Tricks of the Trade
If you decide to proceed with the Tooth Whitening process, also make certain you do the following Therabreath Recommendations to obtain the top 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 press 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.
- Right away after the teeth whitening treatment, enhance the result by using an oxygenating oral rinse. Don't use a mouthwash containing alcohol, as this can in reality lower the bleaching effect.
- Follow this teeth whitening system for several days consecutively.
Recall, to make those newly whitened teeth to last 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!
- Try to steer clear of 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 cosmetic teeth whitening or in addition home tooth whitening .
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