What You Should Know About Teeth Whitening

Contrary to popular beliefs, our teeth are not naturally meant to be completely white. They darken with age and can be stained by tobacco use and certain foods or drinks we consume. Hence, the natural colour of our teeth may carry different shades of greyish-yellow. As whiter teeth are associated with better physical appearance, are you thinking about brightening up your teeth? You may be looking for answers to some common questions regarding teeth whitening.

How does teeth whitening work?

Teeth whitening is also known as teeth bleaching. The main active ingredient in most products is hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide undergoes chemical reaction to break down stains into smaller particles, making the discolouration less concentrated thus making your teeth look brighter.

There are two main types of teeth whitening:

1. In-office bleaching

This procedure is done by a dentist with a more powerful whitening gel which is applied directly onto the tooth surface. After that, a specialised light or laser helps to activate the gel and induce fast effect. The process usually takes around 30 minutes to an hour. You may be required to come back for several appointments. This situation depends on how severe the discolouration is and how white you would like your teeth to be. Different people have different results from the treatment, thus your dentist may suggest you to continue the process at home for a few days or weeks.

2. Home bleaching

For home whitening, the dentist will take impressions of your upper and lower teeth to make custom mouthpieces. These mouthpieces will hold the whitening gel and thus in contact with your teeth. You will need to wear the mouthpieces for several hours every day to achieve the shade that you want.

However, if your tooth has had a root canal treatment and becomes darker with time, the above-mentioned bleaching methods may not improve the appearance. This is because the tooth discolouration arises within the tooth itself. In this case, your dentist will carry out a different procedure where the whitening agent is placed inside the tooth and then covered with a temporary filling. This process may need to be repeated until the desired shade is achieved.

How long can teeth whitening last?

Teeth whitening is not permanent. It can lasts from a few months up to 3 years and is different among individuals. It also depends on your oral hygiene and dietary habits. For instance, smoking, consuming tea and coffee can all stain your teeth over time.

Are there any side effects of teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is unlikely to cause any side effects. However, some people may experience teeth sensitivity or mild gum irritation for a short period during or after the procedure. Besides that, the effect of bleaching materials on development of foetus have not been widely known. Thus, pregnant women should not have their teeth whitened and should have the procedure postponed after delivery.

What about home whitening kits and teeth whitening in beauty salon?

Home whitening kits are cheaper but may not contain enough whitening product thus may not be as effective. Also, the mouthpieces provided may not fit your teeth properly which can cause the bleaching product to leak and contact your gums. Consequently, some people may experience sensitivity and blistering.

Besides that, teeth whitening in beauty salons are carried out by untrained staff without dental qualifications, which may put your oral health at risk.

What about whitening toothpastes?

There are more and more whitening toothpastes available on the market. They can be effective at removing staining as these toothpastes are more abrasive than the normal ones. Hence, they may improve the overall appearance to a small extent.

Moreover, activated charcoal has been increasingly popular as one of the homemade methods for teeth whitening. However, this is not scientifically proven to whiten teeth and thus dental consultation should be sought before using them.

References

1. Teeth Whitening. [Internet] [cited 2018 Dec 31] Available from:

https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/talk/procedures/teeth_whitening/

2. Whitening: 5 Things to Know About Getting a Brighter Smile. [Internet] [cited 2018 Dec 31] Available from:

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/w/whitening

3. What is Teeth Whitening? [Internet] [cited 2018 Dec 31] Available from:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/teeth-whitening/

4. What is Tooth Whitening? Details on Tooth Whitening Methods and Procedures. [Internet] [cited 2018 Dec 31] Available from:

https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/teeth-whitening/tooth-whitening

5. Tooth whitening. [Internet] [cited 2018 Dec 31] Available from:

https://www.dentalhealth.org/tooth-whitening

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• dental
• teeth
• teeth whitening