Tooth-Care


Image by Lutz-R. Frank

Embracing the Ease of Home Teeth Whitening

It’s no secret that people all around the world are looking for perfectly white teeth that will boost their smile. Stained teeth can be an annoying side effect of drinking tea or coffee, as well as smoking and eating specific foods – but there are ways to undo the damage this makes on your teeth.

Choosing to undergo teeth whitening processes at the dentist’s office can often mean long and uncomfortable appointments. But now, there are options for teeth whitening at home, meaning you can whiten your teeth whenever you like in the comfort of your house.

Home teeth whitening have recently become very popular, and there are a number of products on store shelves that can help leave teeth whiter than they were before. However, there are safety precautions that should be taken when choosing to use such kits. Because most cosmetic home teeth whitening kits use a chemical like peroxide, it’s important to be careful how and where you use these teeth whitening kits.

The more peroxide found in the kit, the stronger the tooth whitening power the product has. Be sure to avoid letting this product touch other body parts, and always try to avoid swallowing cosmetic products like these.

For some people there may be specific risks to look out for. If you suffer from sensitive teeth then don’t use the product for as long as specified; it may prove a good idea to ask your dentist what product is best to use. Of course, it’s always important to read the directions on the side of the packaging, and to consult with a dentist before beginning to use products such as home teeth whitening kits.

There are a number of ways to use these types of kits, and there are many products available. There are strips, which are placed along the top and bottom teeth, as well as tray-based kits that are used for a specified amount of time. No matter your choice, be sure to consult with a dentist so you know how to use the tooth whitening kit appropriately.

There are also a number of other options to consider – including laser teeth whitening, whitening toothpaste, gels and bleaching processes. But of course, it’s only natural to want to look your best and to boast a dazzling, white smile for all to see; therefore, it is important that you choose the right home teeth whitening kit for your needs.

Teeth Whitening Toothpastes – Do They Work?

Achieving a whiter smile is possible for anyone today. The list of teeth whitening options available to consumers continues to grow and improve with each passing year. But with so many choices, choosing the option that best suits your budget and lifestyle can be a daunting task. And what about over-the-counter whitening products? What function do they serve and do they actually whiten teeth?

This article will look at one of the most common over-the-counter products, whitening toothpastes, and help you better understand what part, if any, it should play in your goal to obtain and maintain a whiter smile.

Most people brush their teeth twice each day. It is a habit yielding immediate positive results and provides long lasting benefits in overall oral hygiene. It is not to be taken lightly. Today’s modern toothpastes, meeting the American Dental Association’s Seal of Approval, contain ingredients specially formulated to help keep our teeth and gums healthy and strong. Some of the basic ingredients found in today’s modern toothpaste are:

* Abrasives: aid in the removal of tartar and plaque.

* Active ingredients: These are the components of the toothpaste that have a direct effect on the teeth and gums. Examples of what these ingredients are designed to accomplish are:

* Decay prevention

* Antibacterial Agents

* Tartar Control Agents

* Desensitizing Agents

* Detergents

With the increasing popularity in the teeth-whitening marketplace, toothpaste manufacturers have taken the opportunity to advertise the existing benefits, already inherent in toothpaste, toward this market. As shown above all ADA approved toothpastes help remove surface stains through the action of mild abrasives. “Whitening” toothpastes in the ADA Seal of Acceptance program have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness. In general teeth whitening toothpaste can be expected to lighten your teeth by one shade.

Whitening toothpaste does not change the intrinsic color of the tooth structure. It is important to understand the difference between, extrinsic and intrinsic tooth staining.

Extrinsic refers to the surface staining caused by coffee, tea, tobacco, red wine, berries and other stain-causing foods as well as plaque.

Intrinsic means that the stain comes from within the tooth. This happens due to the natural yellowing that occurs to our teeth with age, medicinal stains like tetracycline, other antibiotics and too much fluoride.

To change the intrinsic color of teeth requires a bleaching agent to be applied over a specified period of time and is most effectively performed during a chair-side visit at your Dentist’s office. One power-bleaching visit at the Dentist’s office can lighten teeth by up to seven shades in one hour, removing yellowing and the other intrinsic stains mentioned above. This type of dramatic result does come with a price however.

While doing research for this article most Dentist literature I ran across was passionate in its emphasis that proper brushing with any ADA approved toothpaste will remove most of the extrinsic surface staining that accumulates on our teeth.

But the fact that the American Dental Association has created a new category for “Whitening Toothpastes” with ingredients providing additional stain removing effectiveness is proof these new toothpastes are here to stay and can play an important role in preserving the expensive teeth whitening results achieved at the Dentist’s office.