Important Facts About Teeth Bleaching

By Marla Mills


There are a number of reasons that contribute to tooth discoloration or staining over the years. Examples include levels of oral hygiene, the intake of certain medications and eating habits. Stained teeth can be bleached to improve their appearance. The teeth bleaching procedure involves the utilization of oxidizing agents like carbamide peroxide to bleach them.

Dentists can also perform tooth whitening by placing a special gel into a tray and attaching the tray to teeth for a certain time period. After that, the tray is removed and a special light together with a special whitening agent are utilized in order to activate the chemical reaction. Stain deposits are oxidized after the whitening agent reacts with tooth enamel.

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.

The other whitening method involves placing a thin strip which holds the whitening agent directly on teeth. Dentists do not remove this strip right away. They let their patients retain it for a period ranging from a few hours to a few days. Even though this method takes a while, it is much safer because there is a reduced risk of damage taking place on soft tissue.

Certain stains such as those caused by the long term use of antibiotics such as tetracycline may take time to respond to whitening procedures. In such a case, a dentist will recommend that you undergo a number of whitening procedures to allow the bleach to get into the dentine layer. Newly introduced tooth bleaching procedures utilize light to enhance the whitening effect of bleach.

Tooth whitening procedures are effective in eliminating stains and discoloration but the results vary from person to person. Tooth sensitivity can increase after you undergo the procedure. For this reason, it is wise for you to avoid drinking very cold or hot beverages a few hours after the procedure. Your dentist may recommend that you undergo a fluoride treatment to reduce sensitivity.

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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