Teeth whitening helps to remove stains from teeth and even out their color. Whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures as it can greatly improve the appearance of teeth, and by doing so can remove some complexes that individuals have.
This procedure is not a permanent one, it must be repeated every few months or a year if we want to maintain a perfect whiteness.
The outer layer of a tooth is called enamel. The color of natural teeth is created by the reflection and scattering of light from the enamel, combined with the color of the dentin underneath.
Thinner enamel allows for greater visibility of the dentin color. Smoother or harder enamel also affects the reflection of light and therefore color.
Your teeth can turn yellow for several reasons:
due to eating and drinking, mainly coffee and red wine can stain tooth enamel
Tobacco use
Age – over time, the enamel thins due to mechanical wear and acids, and so the color of the dentine will be more evident
Dental trauma
Medications- antihistamines, antipsychotics and high blood pressure medications as well as tetracycline can change the color of teeth.
The success of tooth whitening can be influenced by a number of factors. For example, cavities should be treated before teeth whitening. This is because the whitening solution can pass through the decayed areas and reach deep into the cavity.
If the gums have receded, the exposed roots of your teeth may appear yellow or discolored and the whitening products will not work on them. Also, whitening does not work on ceramic or porcelain crowns.
Whitening can be done in the dentist’s surgery or at home. In-office whitening is best because your dentist knows your dental history and can keep an eye on you.
The first step in whitening your teeth is to clean them with a scaler and professional brushing. This will remove tartar, bacteria, food debris and other substances that accumulate on your teeth. This is followed by whitening.
Whitening products contain either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. The concentrations of these vary, from 15% to 43%, depending on how intensive you want your teeth whitened.
However, the higher the percentage of peroxide in the whitening solution, the less peroxide should be kept on your teeth. Keeping the gel in longer will dehydrate the tooth and increase its sensitivity.
Teeth whitening is unlikely to cause serious side effects, although some teeth may become more sensitive for a short period of time. This happens when peroxide passes through the enamel and reaches the soft dentin layer, where it irritates the nerve of the tooth.
You may also experience mild irritation of the gums. That’s why it’s important not to overuse these tooth whitening substances.
Women should not whiten their teeth during pregnancy, as the effect of whitening materials on the baby’s development is not yet known.
Teeth whitening helps to remove stains from teeth and even out their color. Whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures as it can greatly improve the appearance of teeth, and by doing so can remove some complexes that individuals have.
