White Teeth Bleaching

White Teeth Bleaching

 

The term “white teeth bleaching” is really a bit of a misnomer, as one never has a reason to bleach teeth that are already white. It's rather like using the term “hot water heater” to describe a device that is intended to heat cold, rather than hot water. White teeth bleaching is really a term used to describe the process of bleaching non-white teeth in order to make them whiter.

 

Teeth are white by nature, but the process of aging can cause teeth to discolor a bit over time. A diet that includes a lot of coffee or red wine can also cause teeth to turn yellow or brown, as can tobacco smoking. Certain antibiotics can also discolor teeth. In the past, such discoloration was simply accepted, but modern technology has made it possible to restore teeth to something approximating their original color a good portion of the time.

 

White teeth bleaching can be accomplished by purchasing any one of a number of “do it yourself” kits over the counter at your local store or by visiting a dentist. Both procedures are very similar; a gel is applied to the teeth that contains an oxidizing agent, usually hydrogen peroxide (home use) or carbamide peroxide (professional use.) The latter is a much stronger agent and tends to produce better results, but one has to be careful to avoid having it contact the gums, as they can be burned by the gel.

 

The dental teeth whitening procedure and the more expensive do it yourself kits include special trays that fit over the teeth than ensure that the gel will not only be applied to the teeth but also that the gel will stay on the teeth for the few minutes that the gel needs to be applied. Less expensive store-bought kits apply the gel in the form of adhesive strips that are applied to the teeth for anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. These strips are less expensive than the tray kits, but the strips have a tendency to “mis-apply” the gel, as the strips do not necessarily conform to the shape of the wearer's teeth.

 

Repeated applications will be necessary with the store bought kits, but many patients see dramatic results with just a single treatment at their dentist. Patients with more severe staining, of course, will likely need more than one treatment. Those with stains caused by antibiotics will likely not benefit from chemical bleaching and may have to resort to more serious solutions, such as having veneers applied to their teeth. Still, for most people, either the store-bought kits or the dental treatment work quite well.

 

Additional articles

 

Home teeth whitening - Can you do it without a dentist?

 

Teeth whitening kits - What's available?

 

Teeth whitening at home - Good idea?

 

Additional wikis

 

Teeth bleaching - Should a dentist do it?