Everyone fancies the prospect of having a white, bright smile. This is the reason the teeth whitening industry is booming in the country. There are different teeth whitening options all suited for different conditions and needs. Choosing the right treatment requires an understanding of the most common whitening procedures.
Whitening Rinses
Like mouthwashes, whitening rinses help freshen breath and reduce gum disease. These rinses also contain ingredients like hydrogen peroxide for whitening teeth. It usually takes a few weeks before you notice any real effects.
To use this product just swish it in your mouth for a few seconds before you brush your teeth. Since whitening rinses are in contact with your teeth for a short period, they are less effective than other whitening products. For example, many whitening strips are used for thirty minutes compared to a few minutes a day for whitening rinses.
Tray Whitening
Whitening trays are take-home whitening solutions. The whitening is achieved through a tray that you wear at night for a certain period of time. You need to visit a dentist for an impression of your mouth.
The custom tray holds a whitening gel. You can wear the gel for 30 minutes to a few hours every day. It might take a few weeks before you notice any real change. However, this procedure is a gradual and controlled way of changing the shade of your teeth.
Tooth Masking
Masking involves placing a thin piece of white filling material. The thin layer is placed over your natural tooth to give it a brighter appearance. The filling material may be opaque resin or any other modern composite resin material.
The dentist may have to trim your natural teeth so they can accommodate the filling material. Tooth masking is a simple and easy tooth whitening option. However, this procedure is mostly recommended for people with discolored teeth.
Laser Teeth Whitening
Laser teeth whitening is considered one of the most effective and expensive teeth bleaching methods. This treatment produces results faster and is more costly than office-based and over-the-counter treatments. With this method, bleach is applied to each tooth and the heat from the laser enhances the effectiveness of the whitening procedure. The laser bleaching method uses a powerful bleaching gel that is activated by the laser for fast results.
According to the American Dental Association, the peroxide gel used in laser whitening procedures has a concentration that ranges between 25 to 40%. You need to be cautious with these high concentrations to avoid tooth sensitivity and protect your oral tissues. Laser tooth whitening is recommended if you want fast whitening results.
Reach out to a dentist for more information.
Every time you take a bite of food, you should be grateful for your healthy teeth! A tooth can lose its health and structure quickly once decay sets in. Luckily, if you visit your dentist for regular appointments, the decay should not get too serious before your dentist notices it and can do something about it. That "something" is applying a filling. On the other hand, if the decay progresses too long before it is caught, you may need a crown or even an extraction.
We want to keep our teeth, and we know you want to keep yours. That's why we created this website to teach you more about dentists and dental care. Enjoy!