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What You May Not Know About Teeth Bleaching But Should

By Marla Mills


Teeth can get discolored as we age due to various factors like diet and lifestyle choices, level or oral hygiene and taking certain medicines. You can deal with the problem of having stained teeth by choosing to have them professionally bleached. Teeth bleaching procedures are usually performed by dentists who utilize oxidizing agents like carbamide peroxide for bleaching purposes.

Tooth whitening can also be performed by utilizing a special gel that is put into a flexible tray. A person needs to wear the custom tray in his or her mouth for a certain period. The tray is then removed and a second whitening agent in addition to a special light is used to activate the chemical reaction. The whitening agent reacts with the enamel of teeth and oxidizes the stain deposits in the process.

The tooth whitening procedure becomes effective after the bleaching agent sinks into the dentine layer. After it is complete, it eliminates all signs of discoloration. This procedure can be performed in two ways. In the first method, a dentist applies a layer of oxidizing agent to the dentine layer and then flushes it away after a certain period.

Generally, a 35 percent hydrogen peroxide equivalent is used to perform tooth whitening. This method is effective and the results are seen within a short period. However, it involves some risk such as soft tissue damage. This is not something to worry about if you have the procedure performed by an experienced dentist. This professional will do his or her best to ensure that your soft tissues do not get damaged.

Dentists also perform tooth whitening by placing the bleaching agent in a thin strip and attaching it on teeth. This strip is not removed in the same sitting. Dentists let patients retain it for a period of a few hours or days. This method takes a while to work but it is safe. The risk of tissue damage taking place is minimal.

Some stains such as those caused by prolonged use of antibiotics like tetracycline do not respond to whitening quickly. In this case, a person is required to undergo repeated tooth bleaching procedures so that the bleach can penetrate the dentine layer to bring out the desired effects. Newer tooth whitening procedures now involve using light to speed up the whitening effect of bleach.

Even though tooth whitening procedures are effective in getting rid of discoloration, the results achieved vary from one individual to the other. Most people report that they suffer from tooth sensitivity immediately after procedure. To reduce sensitivity, dentists advise patients not to take very hot or very cold drinks after undergoing the procedure. Dentists may also offer fluoride treatments to their patients to mitigate the effects of the procedure.

Typical dental insurance does not cover teeth bleaching procedures. If you find it too expensive to have the procedure performed by a dentist, you can purchase tooth whitening kits which are sold at most drug stores. You can easily use these kits at home and they are effective. However, you should be patient when using these kits because you may not get immediate results.




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