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What You May Not Know About Teeth Bleaching But Should

By Marla Mills


Teeth can get discolored as we age due to various factors like diet and lifestyle choices, level or oral hygiene and taking certain medicines. You can deal with the problem of having stained teeth by choosing to have them professionally bleached. Teeth bleaching procedures are usually performed by dentists who utilize oxidizing agents like carbamide peroxide for bleaching purposes.

Whitening can also be done by using a special gel that is placed in a flexible custom tray worn around the teeth for a particular period of time. After this tray is removed, you should use a second whitening agent and a special light which activates the chemical reaction. Whitening agents react with tooth enamel and this reaction oxidizes the stain deposits.

When the tooth whitening procedure is performed repeatedly, the bleach gets into the dentine layer. When complete, this process removes all the signs of discoloration and the outcome is a dazzling white smile. Dentists perform this procedure in two ways. One of them involves applying a layer of oxidizing agents to the teeth and flushing this layer away after a short period.

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.

Dentists also perform tooth whitening by placing the bleaching agent in a thin strip and attaching it on teeth. This strip is not removed in the same sitting. Dentists let patients retain it for a period of a few hours or days. This method takes a while to work but it is safe. The risk of tissue damage taking place is minimal.

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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