Important Facts About Teeth Bleaching

By Marla Mills


There are a number of reasons that contribute to tooth discoloration or staining over the years. Examples include levels of oral hygiene, the intake of certain medications and eating habits. Stained teeth can be bleached to improve their appearance. The teeth bleaching procedure involves the utilization of oxidizing agents like carbamide peroxide to bleach them.



Dentists can also perform tooth whitening by placing a special gel into a tray and attaching the tray to teeth for a certain time period. After that, the tray is removed and a special light together with a special whitening agent are utilized in order to activate the chemical reaction. Stain deposits are oxidized after the whitening agent reacts with tooth enamel.

Bleaching becomes effective after the whitening procedure is performed repeatedly since this allows the bleach to sink into the dentine layer. It gets rid of stains and discoloration and this helps patients get a dazzling white smile. There are two main ways to perform this procedure. One method involves the use of an oxidizing agent which is applied to the dentine layer and then flushed away after some time.

Generally, a 35 percent hydrogen peroxide equivalent is used to perform tooth whitening. This method is effective and the results are seen within a short period. However, it involves some risk such as soft tissue damage. This is not something to worry about if you have the procedure performed by an experienced dentist. This professional will do his or her best to ensure that your soft tissues do not get damaged.

The other whitening method involves placing a thin strip which holds the whitening agent directly on teeth. Dentists do not remove this strip right away. They let their patients retain it for a period ranging from a few hours to a few days. Even though this method takes a while, it is much safer because there is a reduced risk of damage taking place on soft tissue.

Some stains such as those caused by prolonged use of antibiotics like tetracycline do not respond to whitening quickly. In this case, a person is required to undergo repeated tooth bleaching procedures so that the bleach can penetrate the dentine layer to bring out the desired effects. Newer tooth whitening procedures now involve using light to speed up the whitening effect of bleach.

Even though tooth whitening procedures are effective in getting rid of discoloration, the results achieved vary from one individual to the other. Most people report that they suffer from tooth sensitivity immediately after procedure. To reduce sensitivity, dentists advise patients not to take very hot or very cold drinks after undergoing the procedure. Dentists may also offer fluoride treatments to their patients to mitigate the effects of the procedure.

Teeth bleaching services are usually not covered by typical dental insurance. If you cannot afford to visit the office of a dentist to undergo the procedure, you can choose to utilize tooth whitening kits. They are available at drug stores and you can easily use them at home. They are just as effective as the whitening procedures performed by professionals. However, these kits take about a week to work.




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