Dental professionals have several types of whitening methods they use. All of which are rather expensive. Insurance companies seem to believe that if we don't like our teeth the way they are, we can just opt for dentures or sip our meals from a straw. Insurance companies consider getting your teeth whitened, and many of other dental procedures, to be cosmetic and therefore, most will not cover the expense involved.
The methods in use by dentists are not very convenient to the patient either. Most of the procedures are elaborate and must be repeated often to get the desired effect.
BLEACHING AS A POPULAR METHOD
Bleaching the teeth is one popular method used in the dental office. A tooth whitening solution is applied which is high in bleaching agent concentration. The teeth whitening agent includes a hypochlorite, an organic peroxide, an inorganic peroxide, a hydro-peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, a peracid, carbamide peroxide, or combinations thereof.
The whitening solution may be applied either by painting it on, much like applying nail polish to your finger nails, or by using a tray containing the solution placed over the teeth. The tray must be custom-fitted to the natural formation of the teeth.
These procedures are rather invasive and according to law in the United States and other countries, can only be done in a dental office by qualified professionals. They are not suitable for self-application even if it were not the law. It is important to note that the strength of these chemicals is much stronger than similar over-the-counter whitening products designated for home use.
These processes are uncomfortable to the patient and can be quite costly. Another caveat to the patient using the tray procedure: there is a substantial possibility of over-whitening of the teeth, causing a blue glow around the teeth and there will be most certainly, harsh tooth sensitivity. This is mainly due to the whitening agent being difficult to precisely control. Some procedures in the dentist's office use lasers or lights to compound the effectiveness of the bleaching agent. It usually takes about an hour and a half to complete the procedure and can take up to three hours. The bleaching session takes about 20 minutes, divided into three sessions. This means the teeth are subjected to the bleaching agent for at least an hour overall. The active ingredients in the solution, designed to break down and enter the inside of the enamel, makes the tooth lighter in color.
Patients are then sent home with instructions on how to "freshen up" the whitening with a tray-based whitening agent or an additional whitening method to be self-applied.
Some laser bleaching procedures done by a dental professional can last up to 3 years, and are quite costly. They also require sitting in the dentist's chair for a rather long time. Come prepared to stay!
TEETH WHITENING AT HOME
We know that we absolutely must practice good dental hygiene by brushing our teeth after every meal with a good toothbrush to remove food particles, plaque, and stains. Dentists recommend, and it is a good practice, to change our toothbrushes every 2 to 3 months or even sooner.
This is especially true when we consider that most of us throw our toothbrush into a glass near the bathroom sink, or worse, into a drawer with no conception of the germs that are bound to take up residence on its bristles. Of course, we typically use toothpaste, which in early years consisted of a surfactant to spread the liquid out, rather than collect in droplets and this early toothpaste also consisted of an abrasive substance. Today, there is commercial toothpaste designed to carry out any task you would ever think of needing for good oral hygiene, and just as often fails to deliver on the promise. Most of us merely find a toothpaste that we like, know and trust and we stick with that.
Today's toothpastes contain many active ingredients such as fluoride, tartar control agents and peroxide to provide further dental hygiene. As interest in teeth whitening has increased, several versions of toothpaste with tooth whitening properties have come on the market. Even though a toothpaste may contain a tooth whitening agent, it's difficult to achieve a desirable whitening effect in a short period of time by only brushing your teeth for 1 to 3 minutes (perhaps I'm being overly generous to think anyone will brush for that length of time) each time you brush.
Most toothpastes contain some whitening ingredients, virtually the same as used in the dental office; common baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are two main ingredients. Of course, the strengths of these ingredients are far less than those in use by your dental professional. As we know, hydrogen peroxide in higher levels can cause severe sensitivity of the teeth and gums.
Some people will want to use do-it-yourself methods to whiten their teeth and there are plenty of products on the market from major companies.
Teeth whitening has become big business and entire supermarket and big-box discount store aisles are overtaken over by these products, each we're told, better than the next.
These products usually provide a kit including a generic appliance and a container of bleaching gel. They are far less expensive than in-office dental procedures to whiten teeth. There is, however a major disadvantage to this one size fits all generic appliance. It isn't fitted to each individual's teeth and this causes a loose fit around the teeth and gums and can cause the bleaching solution to harm the soft tissue. This also means the whitening will be less effective, and the consumer uses even more of the bleaching gel, trying to get the desired shade of whitening. A poor fit increases the likelihood of the bleaching gel to not only seep onto the gums, but it also means swallowing much of the solution. Another disadvantage is the requirement of cleaning and reusing the appliance. From personal experience, I can tell you it is also a lot of work.
Virtually all do-it-yourself teeth whitening products contain a plethora of chemicals, some of which could be harmful, causing some consumers to re-think whether they actually want to whiten their teeth using these methods.
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