What You Need To Know About Teeth Whitening Procedures
There are several teeth whitening products in the market today that will help you take care of those stained, yellow teeth. Unlike in the past where you could only get them at extremely high prices by visiting the dentist, you can now use some of them at home by yourself. These methods are not only cheap but also quite fast.
Some of these do-it-yourself methods include, Over -The -Counter gel, which is commonly known as the OTC gel. Another method is the Brush-on tooth whitening method where you brush your teeth as usual but in this case using the teeth colour enhancing formula. Finally, there are the whitening strips where you put them on the teeth and pull them off. This method can be quite costly but is the fastest as it takes about one or two weeks. These methods work on peroxide-based chemistry where teeth are whitened through the oxidation process.
Professional Teeth Colour Enhancing Options
Some of the options you may have include:
- Power whitening: There are two main forms of this type of treatment. It is with light and without light. Where whitening is done with the high concentration of hydrogen peroxide is applied to the enamel of the tooth at intervals of 15minutes. On the other hand teeth, colour enhancing without light will make use of very high concentration of hydrogen peroxide to initiate the whole process.
- Custom trays: here the dentist takes impressions of both lower and upper teeth and formulates a flexible clear plastic that will fit your teeth perfectly. This tray will ensure the whitening agent remains in direct contact with the teeth thus ensuring perfect and regular whitening. These trays, however, should be put in place by a very experienced person since they can be quite messy if not placed carefully.
Some people experience pain during and after teeth colour enhancing procedures. This pain can be either a little discomfort or sensitivity and gum irritation. Other people also experience a very sharp bump in their teeth.
In cases where one experiences sensitivity, it may be due to taking of very hot or icy liquids. In this instance, they are supposed to avoid taking drinks with extreme temperatures and stick to those with moderate temperatures. Sensitivity usually occurs within 24-48 hours after the whitening but in rare cases it may last even longer.
The Australian Dental Council recommends that people who are aware of having sensitive teeth and gums should always make sure they inform their dentists of this condition. This way the dentist will adjust the amount of peroxide in the teeth whitener.
Use toothpaste and mouthwash that have a high amount of fluoride a couple of weeks before the procedure. Fluoride helps to strengthen the enamel that will make it more resistant to sensitivity and irritation that is experienced after the process.
Follow instructions when you are doing teeth colour enhancing at home. Don't attempt to get a perfect smile in a few minutes but rather make sure you use teeth whiteners as directed by your dentist. Also, avoid letting the whitener get into areas where the gums are receding.
You now don't have to worry about getting a nice, whiter smile; neither do you have to worry about the pain that comes after whitening. You can now go ahead and get that smile you have always died for. If whitening products fail, the Australian Dental Association suggests that you seek the help of a cosmetic dentist to help whiten your teeth.
About the Author
Mark Miller is a professional dentist, based at Dental as Anything. He offers consultation services to patients on ways to maintain a healthy smile. You can trust him expert opinion, being a reputable member of the Australian Dental Association. Take a look at http://www.dentalasanything.com.au/cosmetic-dentistry/teeth-whitening/ for more info and services.
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