Teeth whitening is not meant for everyone, it is only ideal for people with unrestored but healthy teeth with no fillings. The dental market is saturated with many teeth whitening products including over –the-counter gels, trays, strips, rinses and whitening toothpastes and products from dentists. Although teeth whitening is known to be an ideal solution to restoring whiteness of teeth, the cosmetic procedure is, however, not recommended for everyone.
The best teeth whitening products will not only help to remove stains from off our teeth with ease; they will also help to produce that brighter and whiter smile we deserve without costing us a fortune. However, finding the best teeth whitening products on the market is not that easy at all as it takes time (a lot of trial and error). To help us explore the ever-increasing number of teeth whitening products out there, here are some products to consider.
Due to the presence of mild abrasives, several types of toothpaste can help remove surface stains. Some whitening toothpastes can provide additional stain removal effectiveness because they contain chemical or gentle polishing agents that can provide additional stain removal effectiveness. But let’s bear in mind that whitening toothpastes do not contain bleach.
Professional whitening products and some over-the-counter products contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide that helps to lighten the color deep in the tooth. The color of the teeth can be lightened with about one shade with whitening toothpastes. However, when we conduct light-activated whitening in our dentist’s office, we can make our teeth look 3 to 8 shades lighter.
Whitening strips are virtually invisible strips that are very thin. They are overlaid with peroxide-based whitening gel. The strips are used for a period of about 14 days and applied twice daily. Within a few days, we will begin to observe some results that can be sustained for about 4 months once completed.
Whitening gels, on the other hand, are peroxide based gels that are applied right on the teeth surface with a small brush They are not invisible but clear.. Depending on the strength of the peroxide used, instructions can vary widely which should be carefully followed before use. Although final results can last for about four months, initial results can also be observed in a few days.
Whitening rinses area among the latest whitening products available in the market today. Like most mouthwashes they can help reduce dental plaque, freshen breath and treat gum disease. But some of these products contain whitening products like hydrogen peroxide that can be used to whiten teeth. According to manufacturers, initial results may take about 12 weeks to show. It is recommended to use them before brushing our teeth by just swishing them around in our mouth for a period of about 60 seconds twice a day.
However, experts believe that the use of rinses may not be an effective method of teeth whitening. Unlike most over-the-counter whitening products, rinses get in contact with the teeth for only a short period of time (about 2 minutes daily) which cannot be compared to the extended period (about 30 minutes) of many strips. As a result, whitening rinses may have less of an effect on making the teeth whiter.
Tray-based tooth whiteners can be purchased from a dentist or over-the-counter. These whitening systems which contain a peroxide bleaching agent, involve filing a mouth guard-like tray with a gel whitening solution. Generally, the tray is worn for a couple of hours a day or every night daily for a period of about four weeks or longer depending on our desired level of whitening or the degree of discoloration we are faced with.
While hydrogen peroxide contained in concentrations ranging from 15% to 43% is a commonly used agent for most office professionally applied tooth whitening products, most dentist-supervised at-home products and over-the-counter products typically contain a minimized strength of bleaching agent (about 10% - 22% carbamide peroxide or 3% hydrogen peroxide).
The fastest way through which we can whiten our teeth is through in-office bleaching. But this process of teeth whitening can be the most expensive approach. In-office bleaching involves the use of a whitening product in combination with a laser, a special light or heat.
This product is usually applied directly to the teeth. We do not need to wait for two or more days before we can begin to see results as it happens almost instantly (within 30 – 60 minutes) after treatment. However, several appointments are usually required so as to be able to achieve dramatic results. Nevertheless, dramatic results can be seen even after the first treatment with in-office bleaching.
Although whitening is encouraged to help us improve our oral health and make our teeth whiter and lighter, yet there are certain circumstances where it will be less successful. Thus, it is not recommended at all.
Children under the age of 16 are not recommended to have teeth bleaching because teeth whitening under this condition could cause the pulp to become sensitive or irritate it. Until this age, the nerve or the pulp chamber is enlarged. Pregnant or lactating women are also not advised to have teeth whitening.
Prior to using a tooth-whitening system, we must ensure to check our teeth and gums for sensitivity and/or defective restoration. Also, we should not use a bleaching product if we are allergic to whitening agents like peroxide.
