Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Whitening Your Teeth

By Shauna Peterson

A large portion of modern-day society desires white and radiant teeth. As some have found out, this can prove to be a costly pursuit. The large number of procedures currently available makes finding the perfect treatment financially demanding and time consuming.

The most popular teeth whitening method is known as bleaching. It is chosen by a lot of people because of its low price. Bleaching can be used to whiten teeth that have been stained by coffee, cigarettes or tea and for teeth that have not been properly brushed. A significant advantage to bleaching lies in the fact that none of the tooth's surface (known as the enamel) is removed during treatment.

Each of us has a distinct tooth color. Naturally, a lot of smokers have stained teeth, but others are blessed with pearly white teeth. Typically, tooth bleaching is suited for those who have substantially discolored teeth like smokers. Those who fail to brush their teeth properly, and consume large amounts of foods and beverages known to stain teeth are also well suited for this procedure. It is recommended that you seek professional advice from your dentist before utilizing a tooth whitening service or product.

The bleaching procedure is conducted in a dental clinic. The dentist will cover the gums and the rest of the mouth with a gel or a rubber shield. This will prevent any damage of the tissue. Afterwards, a tray that fits your mouth will be used to apply the whitening gel. When the treatment is over, the doctor will tell you how you can continue the treatment at home. You will likely be supplied with additional whitening trays.

The active substances in professional whitening procedures and take-home products are carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. When applied to the teeth, the Oxygen molecules are broken down and pushed inside your teeth, more precisely, inside the enamel. Here the oxygen works to lighten the teeth. Even though this may appear to be a simple procedure, it may take three to four weeks until the treatment is completed and the full results can be seen. This tends to be the case with at home whitening kits. Whitening treatments performed in a dentist's office tend to have a more immediate whitening impact.

If you are an impatient type, an at-home treatment is probably not for you. In-office teeth whitening treatments produce dramatic and relatively quick results. An eight-hour take home product is also available, for those not quite able to afford an in-office treatment. You apply it during the night and it will perform the whitening while you are asleep. This treatment will last no more than a week.

Yet, the fastest whitening method available is known as laser teeth whitening. As in the case of bleaching, you should get the doctor's approval to undergo this kind of procedure. If everything is alright, the dentist will put a rubber dam on your gums. This will act as a shield, protecting your gums from any damage. Afterwards, the whitening substance will be applied and the laser will be used to magnify the chemicals' effect.

After the treatment, your teeth may be more sensitive to cold and hot foods and drinks. You don't have to worry as this sensation will last no longer than few days from the completion of the treatment.

The effects of teeth whitening treatments can last up to three years if you take good care of you teeth. - 16650

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