A captivating smile is often one of the first things we notice about other people. For that reason cosmetic dentistry and teeth whitening have become very popular in recent years.
Today, a lot of people are spending more money just to have their teeth whiter. They make use of the best teeth whitening treatments and undergo procedures to achieve the brilliant white teeth. Teeth whitening had been an effective procedure to lighten the color of the teeth, without taking away any of the tooth surface. It will not completely whiten the whole set of teeth; it will just lighten the existing color of the teeth.
It is reality that only a few are blessed with pearly white teeth, and our teeth normally become discolored as we grow up. Our teeth can also be stained on the outer part because of the food and drink. Coffee, tea, blackcurrant and red wine have effect on the discoloration of our teeth. Smoking is another cause of teeth discoloration. Most people may encounter staining beneath the surface which is caused by tiny cracks in the teeth or certain antibiotics that absorb the stains.
For the rest of us who aren’t blessed with natural sparkly white smiles, we are fortunate to have two very effective modern day methods to whiten our teeth: Bleaching and Laser Whitening.
Bleaching is a very common way to whiten your teeth.
The reason this is a common form of teeth whitening is because there are varied levels of bleaching. There are do-it-yourself-at-home strips you can purchase at just about any drug store. The higher range of bleaching which is more expensive and more effective can be done at your dentist’s office. This is done with by using a shield to protect your gums followed by the whitening bleach which is applied to your teeth. This is not only more effective but also can be safer since home products do not provide protection for your gums.
Whether you are using an at-home kit or you are going to your dentist, the process is quite similar. The teeth whitening agent consists of peroxides which, after applied, break down so that the oxygen in the agent can enter your enamel which makes the color of your enamel whiter. Bleaching usually is done in repeated treatments over a few weeks time.
With the treatments done by your dentist, your visits include the creation of a custom made mouthguard to protect your mouth from the bleaching agents. After this is done, you are expected to continue treatments at home with the agents that your dentist gives you.
Laser Whitening is another modern day method for teeth whitening.
It is not as popular simply because it is more expensive. It is, however, very effective for teeth whitening.
This is also called the “power whitening”. During this process, a rubber dam is placed over your teeth to shield the gums, and the whitening product is then painted on your teeth. A laser will be used to stimulate the chemical. The light will help boost the chemical reaction of the bleaching product, thus the color change can be attained more rapidly.
Laser Whitening is not only faster but is usually more effective. Dentists say that you can achieve shades of white up to five shades lighter than otherwise. And the total procedure is done at one sitting in an hour. One “gotcha” however is that because this is a “power whitening”, your teeth must be in good health. Your dentist will let you know if you can use Laser Whitening or not after examining your teeth.
The Laser Whitening procedure can also last quite long, maybe up to a few years depending also on how that person takes care of their teeth.
Whether you take advantage of Laser Whitening or Bleaching, just know that these days even though you may not be one of the lucky few that has naturally gleaming white teeth, there are fantastic methods out there today for teeth whitening to help you achieve a white, winning smile.
Want to find out more about teeth whitening and dental procedures? Emil Benjamin writes often for teeth whitening in chicago as well as for dental office san diego.