Your smile is one in all the first things someone might notice about you. So it’s no wonder that by flashing a smile you wish to exhibit your healthy-looking teeth.
Due to this fact, you could wonder if teeth whitening techniques can really help do away with stains and discoloration. But are home teeth whitening products protected? Can they damage your teeth? Can teeth whitening cause tooth sensitivity? Should you think about paying for skilled teeth whitening as an alternative of using teeth whitening products at home?
Here we offer an outline of some popular products for home use and skilled teeth whitening processes. When you understand why your teeth may look dull, how teeth whitening processes work, and the possible pitfalls of teeth whitening options, you may be ready to select the best teeth whitening option for you.
How teeth lose their whiteness
There are a lot of the explanation why teeth can turn into discolored. Some causes include drug unwanted side effects, genetics, dental trauma and injuries, and medical treatments akin to chemotherapy and radiation. But most tooth discoloration results from long-term exposure to coloring agents akin to coffee, tea, soda, and tobacco.
As well as, as we age, the protective enamel on the outer surface of our teeth begins to wear away. As the enamel wears away, the teeth turn into thinner. This makes the teeth more transparent, which might make them look greyer.
As well as, dentin tends to grow with age. Dentin is the hard tissue beneath the tooth enamel. Because it expands, the pulp tissue in the center of every tooth contracts. This process increases the turbidity of the teeth, making them appear more yellowish.
How to whiten your teeth at home
There are a lot of products on the marketplace for home teeth whitening. Some are quite easy, akin to toothpastes with ingredients which can be meant to whiten your teeth. Others are more advanced, using devices akin to trays, strips, and toothbrushes.
Whitening toothpaste
Approved by the American Dental Association (ADA), whitening toothpastes are an easy and economical way to whiter teeth. Available at almost any pharmacy or food market, they will be a very good first step when your teeth need some lightening. But before you purchase, it is important to understand how they work.
How does whitening toothpaste whiten teeth?
Whitening toothpastes don’t provide “in-depth” tooth whitening. As a substitute, some contain abrasives to help break up surface stains and polish tooth surfaces to restore whiteness.
Some whitening toothpastes may even contain a blueing agent. Like old-fashioned laundry detergents that used “bluish” dyes to help white clothes appear whiter, these toothpastes help reduce the appearance of yellowed teeth.
Nonetheless, using whitening toothpastes alone, you’ll generally not see dramatic changes in the whiteness of your teeth. Also, using them as regular toothpaste for a very long time may not be a very good idea – but we’ll speak about that later.
Over-the-counter tooth whitening strips, paint gels, and gel trays
Whitening strips, paint gels, and gel trays (used to apply gel to the teeth with a half-moon tray that enables the gel to surround each tooth) are a few of the more advanced at-home teeth whitening products.
How do over-the-counter teeth whitening strips and gels help whiten teeth?
Teeth whitening strips and gels have the potential to achieve higher leads to less time than whitening toothpaste. This is because the strips and gels are applied to the teeth for an extended time frame, leading to a more concentrated whitening process – called by some the “whitening process”.
And what does all that whitening do if the strip or gel is whitening your teeth? The predominant ingredient, which is common in just about all over-the-counter teeth whitening strips and gels, is hydrogen peroxide. (It is also present in some toothpastes.)
Hydrogen peroxide does double duty when whitening your teeth. Certainly one of its two roles is to act as an oxidizing agent that enables it to diffuse and penetrate spaces inside the enamel, allowing whitening below the surface.
Inside the tooth, hydrogen peroxide naturally releases oxygen, which oxidizes the coloured compounds in the tooth, making a whitening effect. Nonetheless, it is necessary to know that this process could cause some negative unwanted side effects, which we talk more about below.
Natural methods of teeth whitening at home
There are several natural methods of teeth whitening. However it’s necessary to know that a few of these methods are usually not backed by scientific research.
Baking soda for teeth whitening
Baking soda is one common household product that may even have teeth whitening power. according to the ADA. It is a light abrasive that can assist remove stains from the tooth surface.
A simple way to try baking soda is to buy a toothpaste that incorporates baking soda as a whitening agent. You too can mix a scoop straight from the box with a little bit of water to make your own paste and spread it on.
Nonetheless, brushing with a mix of baking soda and water shouldn’t be done each day – only about once every week. It is also strongly really helpful not to keep it on your teeth for greater than 2 minutes and rinse your mouth thoroughly after use. This can assist reduce the risk of harm to tooth enamel or gum irritation.
Eating more fruit and veggies
Foods which have teeth-whitening properties mainly include fruits akin to apples, strawberries, pineapples and watermelons, in addition to crunchy vegetables akin to celery and carrots, that are said to scrub teeth as they eat and stimulate salivation.
While there will not be scientific evidence to support this, dentists will all the time encourage you to eat more fruit and veggies as a part of a balanced weight loss program, so it’s price a try.
Some claim that vinegar can assist whiten teeth, but there is little or no evidence to support this. The truth is, the acids in vinegar may even be harmful.
“Natural” teeth whitening techniques that are usually not really helpful
Dentists don’t recommend using hydrogen peroxide straight from the tooth whitening bottle. That is since it’s hard to control your concentration level, and you may find yourself damaging your teeth or burning your gums.
The identical goes for vinegar. There is no substantial evidence that vinegar, being a natural cleansing agent, can actually clean and brighten teeth. Nonetheless, we do know that the acids in vinegar can damage teeth when used as whiteners.
Our teeth are hard, but not indestructible. Due to this fact, before starting the at-home teeth whitening process, it is a very good idea to talk to your dentist about what they might recommend.
A few of the risks related to at-home teeth whitening products and methods may include:
Teeth whitening could cause tooth sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity is quite common with many teeth whitening processes, including hydrogen peroxide (akin to over-the-counter gels and strips) and acidic foods akin to pineapple and strawberries.
The excellent news is that tooth sensitivity is often temporary. If your teeth turn into sensitive during whitening – whether to the whitening product, certain foods, or heat or cold – a surefire solution is to simply stop whitening your teeth.
Teeth whitening products that are usually not used properly could cause inflammation or damage the gums
Gingivitis and discomfort generally is a common concern for people who find themselves considering teeth whitening. Typically, gum injuries brought on by tooth whitening occur when there is significant contact between the gums and hydrogen peroxide-based whiteners akin to gels and strips.
Depending on the degree of inflammation, it is best to stop using the product altogether, delay its use, or adjust the way you employ the product to limit the penetration of the product into the gums.
Long-term use of abrasive teeth whitening products can damage tooth enamel
Any teeth whitening method that uses abrasives – namely whitening toothpastes – can damage the enamel. This is called tooth abrasion.
Because abrasives polish the tooth surface, they naturally lead to whiter teeth when stains and other discoloration are removed. But removing or reducing surface stains can only whiten teeth a lot. So in some unspecified time in the future, prolonged use of abrasive tooth whitening methods (akin to tube after tube of whitening toothpaste) may not remove stains, but fairly wear down the enamel.
Skilled teeth whitening options
Before starting any at-home teeth whitening process, we recommend speaking with your dentist to see what they’ll recommend for your specific goals. But in case you’re concerned about the safety of over-the-counter methods, or have tried some and have not gotten the results you wish, skilled teeth whitening could also be the answer.
Step one to whiter teeth with the help of a dentist is to sustain with regular dental checkups and tooth cleanings. For most individuals, this is really helpful every 6 months.
When it comes to skilled teeth whitening methods, there are generally two options:
- Custom at-home whitening trays where an impression of your teeth is taken to create a tray that completely suits your mouth
- In-office whitening, where you’ll have to go to the dentist for whitening treatments
In each cases, dentists can use a specially formulated concentration of whitening agent – hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide depending on the technique.
With hydrogen peroxide whitening, the dentist can control the exact period of time the teeth are exposed to the chemical and the amount used. They can even use skilled methods to prevent contact with chemicals/gums and inflammation.
Dentists can even mix teeth whitening with skilled teeth polishing. The result is teeth which can be often whiter than with an over-the-counter product.
Are you able to whiten your teeth in case you had a dental procedure?
In case you’ve had any dental restoration work, akin to cavity fillings, crowns, bridges or veneers, it is important to know that teeth whitening products don’t whiten these materials.
That is not to say teeth whitening is not an option, but it surely’s not that easy. So it’s best to talk to your dentist about your options.
Learn more about protected teeth whitening by talking to your dentist
Again, before starting an at-home teeth whitening routine, it could be a very good idea to talk to your dentist. This is a subject they’re consistently asked about they usually can assist you to determine which in-home options is likely to be best for your purposes and when skilled whitening is likely to be a greater option.