MANY new perspectives on various aspects of life have been brought about by modernisation.
Facts which were previously unknown have now been revealed and people are more self-aware as a result of their increased education and exposure.
These facts include, teeth whitening as one of the most common procedures being performed on people lately.
Suddenly everywhere in the world people have started to notice how discoloured their teeth are.
Does this imply that they were blind to it in the past?
There were fallacies associated with the idea that people were probably unaware of cosmetic dentistry because it was so rare.
For instance, teeth whitening was associated with the notion that those who did it lacked self-esteem and did not value their natural appearance, in addition to being an unneeded procedure and a financial waste.
The question is: Why now? The answer is exposure.
- Teeth whitening: What you should know
Keep Reading
As you gain more knowledge, you become more conscious of everything around you and more motivated to make changes.
In today’s world, people’s appearance and aesthetics are increasingly significant.
Are you considering whether or not to whiten your teeth?
To lighten the burden on decision making, this article will educate you on the various treatments available, as well as the benefits and the disadvantages of the procedure.
What is teeth whitening?
The term “teeth whitening” refers to any technique that is known to lighten teeth and prevent discolouration.
Teeth discolouration can be caused by a variety of circumstances, including ageing, choice of diet, or possibly an inherited condition, as was discussed in the previous article about this subject.
Understanding how the process works and when to utilise specific techniques is crucial to getting great results.
Teeth whitening can be achieved by a chemical reaction to lighten the tooth colour or if that is not possible, by physically removing the stain.
The main process that is implemented in this procedure is bleaching, which is defined as the chemical degradation of the substances that stain the teeth (chromogens).
In simple terms teeth whitening is the process of bleaching a tooth to produce a lighter colour.
The active ingredient in most whitening products is hydrogen peroxide, which is delivered as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.
Carbamide peroxide is a stable complex (inactive form of hydrogen peroxide) that breaks down in contact with water to release hydrogen peroxide slowly and gradually.
It is often preferred for overnight teeth whitening procedures whereas hydrogen peroxide is used during daytime for faster whitening effect.
Types of teeth whitening systems
To address the specific stain that needs to be removed, different products are available; teeth-whitening products may comprise either a bleaching or a cleansing ingredient.
The primary purpose of cleaning agents, which are mostly present in toothpastes, is to get rid of extrinsic stains, which are stains that come from exterior sources, like drinking a lot of coffee, tea or red wine.
Conversely, by means of a chemical reaction, bleaching agents can enter the teeth and eliminate the staining agents.
Whitening toothpastes
To get rid of stubborn stains, whitening toothpastes usually include more abrasives and detergents than regular toothpastes.
Although whitening toothpastes do not contain bleach (sodium hypochlorite), some do contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide in trace amounts, which lighten teeth.
Tooth colour can usually be lightened by one or two shades with whitening toothpaste.
Because abrasives can cause tooth wear, their use in teeth whitening is restricted.
Whitening toothpaste is intended to be used for approximately two months because excessive use can lead to the development of tooth hypersensitivity.
Over-the-counter (OTC) whitening strips and gels
Whitening strips are made of plastic and are designed to fit onto the front surfaces of teeth to apply a thin layer of 10% peroxide gel.
The strips are usually applied twice a day for 30 minutes for 14 days.
This procedure can lighten teeth by one or two shades and results can be observed in a few days.
Some of the more recent whitening strip treatments offer the same whitening effect as the two-a-day products, but they only need to be applied once every 30 minutes.
Make sure you do not apply whitening strips to the surfaces of your teeth because doing so could irritate your gums.
Whitening gels
The gels are made of peroxide which is immediately administered to the teeth’s surface using a little brush.
Typically, they are recommended to be applied twice daily for 14 days.
Whitening rinses
Most people use rinses twice a day for 60 seconds each.
Up to three months may pass before the colour of your teeth improves by one or two shades.
Whitening rinses are considered abrasive and should not be overused once the results have appeared, they work slowly as compared to other OTC procedures.
Tray-based tooth whiteners (they are generally stronger compared to other OTC products)
There are over the counter and professional tray-based teeth-whitening devices available.
This technique entails wearing a fitting tray filled with carbamide peroxide-bleaching gel for two to four hours each day or overnight.
Teeth whitening typically results in a significant lightening of the teeth by one or two shades in a matter of days.
Whitening in the clinic’s office
In-office whitening can lighten teeth faster than OTC whitening since the treatments contain higher concentrations of peroxide (35%) than OTC.
Therefore, prior to treatment, gingival tissues are typically covered.
In order to speed up the chemical reactions, some experts employ laser devices or blue light.
Results of in-office teeth lightening are visible after a single 30-minute to 60-minute treatment.
There are other treatments or methods that can yield more striking outcomes.
Are laser procedures really important when whitening your teeth?
In dentistry, using lasers is regarded as an “off-label” usage, that is to say, it is not a necessity because using lasers or not makes no difference.
Professional stain removal is the best option for more complicated or severe stains, while OTC treatments can be utilised for milder cases.
The amount of time needed to reach the tooth-whitening endpoint depends on the bleaching agent concentration and exposure duration.
The type of whitening used will determine this endpoint; cleansers and OTC gels often have 1-2 shades, whereas professionally applied solutions have more.
It is crucial to remember that teeth whitening treatments weaken your teeth, therefore, they should only be done once or twice in your lifetime to avoid dental hypersensitivity and gum irritation.
If the stains are not too noticeable, I suggest you avoids treatment.
Patience Matambo is a final year BSc Dental Surgery student at the People’s Friendship University of Russia. She can be reached at patiencedental2024@gmail.com
