Teeth whitening refers to various procedures that help a person achieve a brighter and whiter smile. Many in-chair treatments and take-home kits are available today to get you the smile of your dreams. In addition, teeth whitening methods like sanding down stains, bleaching, and ultraviolet (UV) light therapy are some popular choices.
While most teeth whitening treatments are safe to perform, they may have mild side effects like tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. Here’s a guide to help you better understand what teeth whitening involves, how to do it safely, and possible side effects.
Types of teeth stains
To whiten your teeth effectively, you must choose a treatment that addresses your stain type. In the case of intrinsic and extrinsic staining, you’ll have to go for a whitening method that effectively removes both stains.
What are intrinsic stains?
Stains that occur inside your tooth enamel are known as intrinsic stains. These types of stains may be present even before the eruption of your teeth in your childhood. The reason for these stains can be anything like the use of antibiotics, exposure to high levels of fluoride, and thinning of your tooth enamel as you grow. Intrinsic staining may be genetic as well.
What are extrinsic stains?
Stains that occur on the outside of your tooth are known as extrinsic stains. They occur due to environmental exposure, leading to discolouration of your tooth enamel. Some common extrinsic stains occur due to coffee, artificial food colourings, and tobacco use. These stains can also occur due to antibiotics, just like intrinsic stains.
If you aren’t aware of the type of staining, you may .speak to your dentist. They can examine your teeth and tell you about the stain type and the best whitening method that will help in their removal.
Teeth whitening options
Teeth whitening options range from using essential toothpaste with whitening ingredients to seeking professional teeth whitening sessions by a specialist.
Some whitening products work well in removing extrinsic stains, while others bleach stains to make the teeth appear lighter and brighter.
Most at-home kits and in-office options include hydrogen peroxide, a mild bleach that can break down and remove or reduce stains on your teeth. Another common oxidising ingredient present in many whitening products is carbamide peroxide.
These chemicals in higher doses may irritate your body in higher doses. Hence, it is advisable to use any teeth whitening product as directed.
It is common for a person to experience sensitivity while undergoing at-home or in-chair whitening treatments. However, it is recommended to speak to your specialist to allow them to make any alterations to your treatment if needed. For any whitening product that leads to tooth pain, redness, or bleeding of the gums, stop using it and consult your dentist.
Whitening products
Over-the-counter whitening products include whitening toothpaste and mouthwash. These products may have baking soda as an ingredient, which works as a mild abrasive and helps scrub the stains away. Some whitening toothpaste may include charcoal, also known for its abrasive properties. Specific whitening formulas may contain low concentrations of carbamide and hydrogen peroxide. Remember that some abrasives may damage your tooth enamel after prolonged use.
Your teeth’s hard exterior is known as enamel, and this isn’t a part made of living cells, which is why it cannot repair itself once worn out. Therefore, if you plan to use abrasive whitening products, you should consult your dentist to understand how to use them safely.
Home whitening kits
As its name suggests, a home whitening kit is to be used by yourself at home. They are available in gel or paste form and are to be applied to your teeth with a brush or in the form of sticky strips.
Most home whitening kits have a whitening agent to be applied to the teeth before placing a mouthguard on them. In addition, some at-home kits have a heat lamp, blue light, or UV light within the mouthguard that helps radiate the whitening paste for better results.
The active ingredients of most at-home whitening kits are at a lower concentration than those products used by a specialist. This is why at-home kits require daily application for several weeks to see visible results. However, most at-home whitening kits offer visible results within 2 to 4 weeks.
Whitening at dentist’s office
Teeth whitening at a dental clinic involves using products with higher concentrations of active ingredients. This is a primary reason why such products get visible results more quickly.
In-office teeth whitening may demand several sessions to help you get your teeth as white as possible. These sessions are expensive and may or may not be covered by insurance because they aren’t routine dental cleaning.
If your go for power bleaching, this treatment will involve rinsing your teeth with a powerful hydrogen peroxide solution for a few minutes. Some dentists also offer laser therapy during teeth whitening sessions.
Teeth whitening side effects
The most common side effect of at-home and in-chair teeth whitening treatments is temporary tooth sensitivity. You may also experience slight mouth and gum irritation, mainly because of hydrogen peroxide present in the product.
For teeth whitening sessions at the dentist’s office, you may expect your gum tissues to be protected during the treatment to minimise side effects.
If you aren’t happy with your smile and want to brighten your teeth, speak to us. Call us on (03) 9133 8657 or drop an email at [email protected]. to schedule your appointment today.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does teeth whitening involve?
Teeth whitening involves bleaching of teeth to remove intrinsic and extrinsic stains and make them appear lighter. A person can achieve a whiter and brighter smile with at-home or in-chair teeth whitening treatments. Which option is best depends on the stain type and the level of staining. Mild stains may lighten with the use of at-home kits. However, deep stains caused due to tobacco use or antibiotic use may require professional whitening treatments. Get your mouth examined by your dentist to know which treatment is the best for you. Remember, some teeth whitening treatments may cause mild side effects. Hence, asking your dentist about the same before you commit to treatment is essential.
What causes your teeth to discolour?
Discolouration of teeth may occur due to various reasons. Food and drinks like coffee, tea, sodas, red wine, and even some fruits and vegetables are the most common reasons. Discolouration of teeth may also occur due to cigarettes and chewing of tobacco as well. In some cases, poor dental hygiene, like inadequate brushing or flossing, may also lead to tooth discolouration. Sometimes several diseases may affect the teeth’ enamel and dentin and cause tooth discolouration. If you wish to maintain the whiteness of your teeth, it is best to adopt healthy lifestyle habits like cutting on beverages mentioned above, quitting smoking, brushing regularly, etc.
Can discolouration on teeth go away on its own?
Staining teeth is a common problem faced by many people. This may happen due to beverages like tea or coffee, smoking, chewing tobacco, and other reasons. Stains and spots on teeth may also occur due to fluorosis or tooth decay, and these cannot be expected to go away on their own. Most stains, especially permanent and stubborn ones, require whitening treatments. Depending on the stain type and level of staining, at-home or in-chair dental treatments may help. To know which treatment is best for you, speak to your dentist about the same. They will examine your teeth stains and colour and suggest the best treatment.
