Another name for teeth whitening used by the dentists predominantly is ‘Dental Bleaching’. It is nothing but a commonly used methodology in dentistry or so called cosmetic dentistry to restore the natural color of the teeth. There have been certain reservations from FDA though, which firmly believes that bleaching causes whitening beyond the natural color of the teeth. There are myriad methods undertaken by professionals as well as common people around the world to achieve teeth whitening. Some of them are bleaching strips, bleaching gel, bleaching pen, laser, or mere brushing of teeth.
Before knowing the details of remedial actions, we must know the causes of teeth discoloration. A kids tooth is always whiter than what is to follow during adulthood. This change is teeth color with age can be attributed to mineral structural change of the tooth resulting in the enamel becoming deficient in phosphate and less porous. Bacterial pigments and vegetables having good concentration of Xanthonoids and Carotenoids can cause staining as well and damage the enamel. We might not know but our intake of tobacco, tea, coffee, wine and likewise other colored liquids has an effect towards reducing enamel brilliance.
Many dental associations and professionals had been researching and brainstorming over probable methods of tooth whitening. Different whitening methods include: in-office bleaching and at-home bleaching. While the former is applied by a professional dentist the latter is used at home by the patient. Also they can be over the counter, which is applied by patients or non-dental, which are offered at malls, spas and kiosks.
However, it is recommended to have one’s teeth diagnosed by a dentist before going ahead with whitening treatments methods. The concerned dentist should examine the patients dental and health history thoroughly, noting down any possible allergies or sensitivities before suggesting any treatment method.
Following whitening treatment white-spot decalcifications may be highlighted and become noticeable directly, but with still further application of whitening methodology the different areas of the teeth generally become spots less and more white. The whitened teeth are now noticeable. Bleaching should not be undertaken if tooth has any decay or infection of gums. When the color of the tooth turns gray, simple bleaching techniques may not be effective. Hence, a patient may need the help bleaching trays customized to suit his or her requirement. Bleaching is more befitting when the teeth have been discolored with a yellow tinge to it. It must be noted that whitener does not work where bonding has been used. Options to deal with such cases can be use of the porcelain veneers or dental bonding.
Discoloration of the teeth from inside out can happen in case of internal staining of dentin. Remedial action for this can be Internal bleaching. If heavy staining occurs or tetracycline damage can be seen on a patient’s tooth, whitening becomes ineffective. However, there are other different methods of whitening the teeth. Bonding is one of them. Bonding masks tooth stains with an application of a thin coating of composite material to the front of a person’s teeth, which is then cured with a blue light. A veneer can also help in masking tooth discoloration noticeably.
Apart from the in-office and home chemical methods of whitening / bleaching the teeth there a few effective natural teeth whitening procedures which prove good in making the teeth whiter without a lot of side effects, and food products that help in the same way.
It is important to realize that teeth whitening is better delivered by dental professionals because it is important to do it well and with the minimum of discomfort.