18
Oct
The Best Way to Whiten Your Teeth
When you were young you probably had nice white teeth. But as you grew up you started to notice that your teeth are not as white as they once were and you are probably wondering why. Teeth staining can be a result of a number of things, which we will discuss. As well as what is the best way to whiten your smile!
Types of Teeth Staining
To know the best way to whiten your teeth you need to know what type of stain is discoloring your smile. Teeth stains can be classified into two major categories.
Extrinsic
It is the staining of the tooth’s surface caused by food and drinks. Not all foods and beverages will stain your teeth, but food and drink particles can get stuck on the surface of your teeth and over time discoloring your teeth. Tea, coffee, and wine are an example of drinks which contains staining properties.
Tobacco in any form can also cause teeth staining. Polishing or bleaching from trained dental office staff can remove stains caused by tobacco use or food and drinks.
As people get old, the enamel wears out, and it becomes thinner making it more susceptible to staining from foods, beverages, smoking, and injuries. Because of the coating being thinner even with a slight injury you can see staining from blood cells.
Cleaning an extrinsic stain can be hard if tooth enamel demineralization is present. Demineralization is when the tooth enamel is rough from ingesting acidic foods and not brushing the teeth properly. Demineralization of tooth encourages staining. But can be avoided with proper oral hygiene.
Intrinsic
It is staining that occurs deep within the enamel, and in some cases, a tooth may grow with the stain inside. There are several intrinsic staining causes, below are a few of them.
- Consuming excess fluorine during enamel formation may cause staining.
- Some medication can cause intrinsic staining.
- Trauma caused to the tooth results in staining.
- A disease called dentinogenetic imperfecta that some people are born with it causes purple, amber or grey discoloration.
It is easier for the dentist to diagnose an intrinsic stain by visual examination. Before treatment begins, it is essential to identify the cause of the natural stain to administer adequate treatment. Intrinsic staining is hard to treat, and in most cases, veneers and crowns are used to cover the stained tooth.
Professional Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is done by a professional dentist. No matter what kind of stain is discoloring your teeth the dentist will know the best way to treat it.
Before the dentist begins the whitening process, he protects your gums. There are two types of bleaching agents used by dentist’s carbamide or hydrogen peroxide. The two bleaching agents are used at a higher concentration for the process to be active.
The concentration range between 10-35 percent and this concentration is only allowed for procedures done by professionals. The dentist repeats the whitening process until the desired results are achieved.
Advantages
- Yields fast result. Usually, professional teeth whitening only takes 45 minutes to an hour. The concentration of bleach used by a dentist is higher than take-home kits.
- Reduced sensitivity caused by the bleaching agent. The dentist will protect the gums by using dental damns which prevents the bleaching agent from reaching the gums.
Disadvantages
- When compared to take-home kits professional whitening is more expensive.
At Home Whitening
It is obtained from the dental office and has a higher concentration of bleach agents than over the counter teeth whitening gel. The intensity is higher when you compare it with over the counter gels, but the strength is lower to that of professional whitening gel.
It consists of a tray and whitening gel. You can’t buy the kit anywhere else apart from the dentist office. The plates are custom-made, and impressions of your teeth are crucial for this to happen. The trays are made to fit properly and protect your gums from the bleaching agent.
Before you collect your take-home whitening kit, the dentist will guide you on how to use it properly for best results. Take home kit is suitable for those who prefer doing the procedure by themselves, or as a follow-up maintenance treatment.
Advantages
- It is cheaper than in-office whitening.
- You get to do it yourself.
Disadvantage
- It takes longer for you to see effects because of the low concentration of the bleaching agent.
For fast and stunning results come to Pleasant Hill Dental for your professional teeth whitening. We will work with you to give you the smile you have always dreamed about. Contact us today and schedule your consultation!