The field of dentistry is really growing fast in the past years. Teeth are an important part of overall looks and how you appear to the outside world has an impact on your life. White teeth add to a beautiful smile, and there are quite a number of systems to choose from to whiten your teeth.
Australians spend millions of dollars on teeth whitening products and processes. There are a variety of products to choose from if you want to whiten your teeth at home.
Teeth whitening systems
These include whitening toothpaste, whitening strips and gels, whitening mouthwashes, tray based tooth whiteners, and whitening done in the dentist’s office.
Teeth whitening gels
These are the gels to be applied with a brush directly onto the surface your tooth. They are clear gels that comes with instructions as how to use. The gels may contain different strengths of peroxide, that is why it is important to follow instructions carefully for the gel to work well. You can see the results of the product in a few days. Usually if you follow the instructions properly this treatment can work for about 4 months after which the results may start to wear off.
Teeth whitening systems give various degrees of results to people because the results depend on the kind of treatment taken, whether it is done by professionals or at home and the amount of stains on the teeth. The more stained teeth the longer duration of whitening will need to be done. The results will last longer if done professionally and also if the teeth were not deeply stained.
Whitening strips
These are very thin films almost invisible strips which have a coating of peroxided based gel. The instructions come with the strips in the package, and it is necessary to follow instructions carefully. Just like the gel, the results of whitening strips can be visible in a few days and they will last for about 4 months.
Teeth whitening toothpastes
Almost all the toothpastes whiten the teeth to a certain extent because they contain a mild abrasive substance. But the whitening toothpastes have additional chemical agent which works for removal of stains. They also have a polishing agent for teeth.
These toothpastes remove stains from the surface of the teeth and gently polish them too so that teeth look whiter and brighter than before. They do not contain bleach therefore they help remove inconsistency from the front of the teeth effectively, but do not lighten the colour of the teeth very deeply.
Whitening toothpastes are available for use easily and may benefit to lighten the colour of your teeth by one shade.
Teeth whitening rinses or mouthwashes
These are very new whitening products available across the country and like all mouthwash products brings freshness to breadth. They also useful in controlling plaque and bacteria in the mouth. In addition to usual ingredients for freshness and antibacterial agents, these mouth washes contain hydrogen peroxide which is used to whiten the teeth. The mouthwash must be kept in the mouth at least for a minute for it to be effective. It is a slow treatment and may take about 3 months to show results, because it comes into contact with the teeth for a very short while.
Tray based tooth whiteners
Tray based tooth whitening systems can be used at home or in the dentist’s office. It consists of a mouthguard like tray which has a solution containing peroxide for bleaching the teeth. This mouthguard like tray has to be born for a period of 2 hours a night every night for a period of about 4 weeks or longer. The period of weeks depends upon the stains on your teeth and the level of whiteness you desire.
Teeth whitening by the dentist
Teeth whitening can be done in the dentist’s office also, which is quicker than home based whitening. This is the most effective and reliable method of whitening your teeth. With in-office whitening, the whitening agent is applied on the teeth by the dentist. The office based whitening is quicker because it usually done along with the use of heat, a UV light or laser. The in-office teeth whitening shows the results are quicker and longer lasting.
How long do the results last?
Teeth whitening process may continue for weeks but results do not last forever. The durability also depends on the kind of food intake by the individual. If you consume many beverages that stain the teeth, the effect may fade away in a month itself. But on the other hand, if your stay away from the foods that stain the teeth then you can have the white teeth for as long as a year.
DIY methods are not as effective as in-office whitening treatments. The products available over the counter contain little less intense bleaching agent. Even when the dentist has supervised the teeth whitening process done at home, it is not as strong as the procedure done by the dentist in the office.
Teeth whitening trays which is used by the dentist is made to order tray which is made according to the image of your teeth and made into a mouth guard which fits snugly on your teeth helping the bleaching agent coming into contact with all your teeth perfectly. Since it is custom made, the effect of teeth whitening will be more dramatic than otherwise. A custom-made tray will be safer because it will minimize the contact of gel with the gums which may affect the gums. Over the counter trays are standard size trays which may allow your gums to come into contact with the whitening gel and may become a cause for worry.
When teeth whitening treatment is done in the office, the dentist will shield the gums by a protective rubber shield so that the gel comes into contact with teeth only protecting the gums.
When you get teeth whitening in the office one advantage is that under the supervision of the dentist the procedure is safer because your dentist knows about your medical history, your allergies and your medication if any. He will take care not to bring any harm to your teeth and your overall health.
The cost of teeth whitening in a dental clinic may be more than home-based DIY methods, but it is worth it.