Tooth whitening advices

Tooth whitening can be a highly effective way of lightening the natural colour of your teeth without removing any of the tooth surface. It is the process of removing stains and discolouration from teeth and improving their colour through a bleaching process to make them look better. It cannot make a complete colour change; but it will lighten the existing shade.

Usually teeth is stained on the surface through food and drinks such as tea, coffee, red wine and blackcurrant. Smoking can also stain your smile look. Calculus or tartar can also affect the colour of it. Some people may have staining under the surface, which can be caused by certain antibiotics or tiny cracks which take up stains.

Professional bleaching is the most common form of whitening. The ‘active ingredient’ in the product is usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. As the active ingredient is broken down, oxygen gets into the enamel and the tooth colour is made lighter.

The total treatment can usually be done within one to four weeks. First, you will to visit your dentist. Your dentist will need to make a mouthguard and will take impressions for this at the first appointment. Once your dentist has started the treatment, you will need to continue the treatment at home. This means regularly applying the product over two to four weeks, for 30 minutes to 1 hour at a time.

However, there are now some new products which can be applied for up to eight hours at a time. This means a satisfactory result can be achieved in as little as one week. There is now laser or in other words ‘power whitening’. During this procedure a rubber dam is put over your teeth to protect the gums, and a bleaching product is painted onto your teeth. Then a light or laser is shone on to activate the chemical.

Some people may find that their tooth become sensitive to cold during or after the treatment. These symptoms are usually temporary and should disappear within a few days of the treatment finishing.
If any of side effects continue you should go to your dentist.

Furthermore there are home lightening kits. Opalescence  system producers offers to try their products that you can easily use at home. With Opalescence the procedure could be completed in 10 days or less.

We recommend the following tips to care for your mouth:

- brush your mouth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste;
- reduce sugary foods and drinks, black coffee, tea, red wine, smoking;
- visit your dentist regularly.