How Does A Dentist Whiten Teeth
Many of us, at one time or another, might have considered teeth whitening to restore the colour of our now-stained enamels. Why, if Hollywood stars can sit at the dentist’s chair for an hour and come out with whiter teeth, then by all means, why not us too?
Many factors contribute to the darkening of teeth. Inevitably, our teeth gets tainted because of coffee, red wine, tea, nicotine, plaque build-up and even regular consumption of highly pigmented fruits such as blueberries and grapes. But that is not all – internal system stains such as the intake of certain antibiotics, aging and trauma can also contribute to the discolouration of teeth. Surprisingly, too much intake of fluoride (commonly found in toothpaste) can also cause teeth to look blotchy.
Apart from the standard teeth whitening toothpastes, there are other ways to bring back the colour of your teeth. One of which is the regular cleaning done by dentists to remove plaque and other unwanted substances that are usually embedded between gaps.
Food particles wedged between the teeth and gums cannot be eliminated by regular brushing alone. Another way to whiten teeth is through home-whitening systems. This is, by far, the most common method as it allows you to take the treatment home with you from the dentist’s clinic. Home whitening can be very effective when done correctly so it is best to consult your dentist and have him supervise the treatment.
Teeth whitening, when done at home, would be less costly than in-clinic whitening, making it a popular choice for most people. A custom-fitted tray with the impression of your teeth is made by your dentist.
You will then fill the tray with a whitening gel, attach it to your teeth and let it stay for several hours during the day (or night) for about two weeks. The whitening gel works as a bleach to remove stubborn stains, containing 10 to 15% of carbamide peroxide. The idea of home teeth whitening is allowing you to do the treatment in the comfort of your own space.
Another process of teeth whitening is the in-clinic whitening which is in fact, literally done at the dentist’s office. This treatment is much shorter yet more expensive too! Depending on the degree of teeth whitening you wish to achieve, trips to the dentist can be as little as once or twice and as much as 10 times.
The bleaching gel is applied directly to your teeth and immediately activated by the use of laser lighting. Your gums are protected by special dental solutions as well as soft rubber matting to further shield your mouth from the whitening gel. In the process, both teeth and gums may sometimes become sensitive.
