Teeth whitening – A dental treatment

Jul09
2009 Written by admin

Teeth whitening is a dental treatment but is often considered to be a cosmetic procedure for confident looks and enhancing personality. There is a good no. of people who have yellow or brownish shade on their teeth which is a result of years of bad eating habits , smoking , alcohol etc. the mineral structure of deciduous teeth changes over time resulting in yellow teeth.

Teeth whitening are a process of cleaning our teeth when daily brushing does not clean the plaque deposited on it. There are various methods of whitening teeth, like whitening gel, whitening strips and of course the age old formula of using baking soda. If one can maintain good oral hygiene, teeth take longer to turn yellow. Once yellow or brown, it is time to see which teeth whitening method is suitable for you.

Teeth whitening strips are good and effective but the problem with it is that it leaves yellow spots either along the gum line or in the middle of the tooth. If you can use it properly in such a manner that entire surface of tooth is covered with the strip, you will definitely see the difference.

The most easy and cost effective method of teeth whitening today is using teeth whitening kits which are available online. It saves you from repeated visits to dentist’s office while ensuring the same whiteness level. This apart it is a lot cheaper than visiting a doc, though the procedure is same. All you need to do is follow the instructions and get a sparkling set of super white teeth form the comforts of your home.

The whiteness level achieved after a few sessions, remain for long before you need to repeat the whole procedure. In a few years you can repeat it as soon as you notice the first symptom of yellowish shade on your teeth.

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Whiten teeth

Jul09
2009 Written by admin

While trying to find out which is the best way to whiten your teeth, you need to make sure if professional teeth whitening is the only way left to bring that sparkling touch back. There are several home remedies to whiten your teeth and the market offers you even more teeth whitening products and procedure which are not only effective but affordable also.

If you need to whiten your teeth it is best to start the teeth cleaning process by using a whitening toothpaste. These tooth pastes are formulated in such combination of other ingredients that you not only whiten your teeth but also make sure that your teeth are free from any ailment. However I must say that expert advice should be sought if some kind of dental disease is already there.

Out of several ways to whiten your teeth, using baking soda which is available at your local grocery store is very effective and perhaps the cheapest method to try. There are times when these home remedies do not work therefore should not be repeated again and again. In such situations you should consider going for expert teeth whitening system.

Dentist’s method to whiten teeth is simple but somewhat costly. Home teeth whitening systems introduced by many dental care products manufacturers are as effective as the bleaching done by your dentist. Of course it must be noticed that you do not get individual and customized instruction if you go for home teeth whitening kit.

In order to whiten your teeth, you may have to change some lifestyle habits as well. Cutting down on tea, coffee and alcohol goes a long way in maintaining your teeth’s whiteness, though it does not mean that a teetotaler will not have stained teeth. Sooner or later teeth start turning pale with age .Once you notice the first sign of a yellow shade it is time to start taking some steps to whiten your teeth.

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How long does the whitening effect last

Jul09
2009 Written by admin

While going for a whitening session, the most common question that needs to be answered is “how long does the whitening effect last”. It entirely depends upon the procedure used to whiten your teeth. There are a variety of teeth whitening products available on the market today , some of them are so quick that you notice the effect almost immediately while there are others which have more permanent effects but take longer before you notice the whiteness level.

Let us have a look at different whitening procedure and their effects.

  • Bleaching process done by dentist: This is the process most people prefer because you need not worry about what product to go for, how long to apply the whitening gel, what if there are any side effects etc. The effect of this kind of teeth whitening lasts almost 2 years and then you need to get it touched up.
  • Home teeth whitening kits: These are just a modified rather simplified version of the process done by your dentist. The whitening gel is in average quantity therefore effect lasts about 6 months. The advantage of this procedure is that you can repeat the procedure yourself when you notice you teeth turning yellow
  • Bonding: this is just another process to whiten your teeth which uses resin. In fact the resin used to whiten your teeth is molded onto your teeth. As time goes by, the resin starts chipping away and that is when your teeth look the ugliest. However the effect of resin remains for 6 months to a year.
  • Whitening tooth paste: This is the simplest whitening method which can be used daily just like normal tooth paste. The effect of this toothpaste remains there for almost a month. The positive point is that you can use this toothpaste any time for mild stains. However stubborn stains are not cleaned by this paste.

All the methods have their own lasting effects depending upon the material used and the type of stains that are removed. How long the effect will last depends a lot on your spending capability that the method of whitening. Costlier the procedure, longer is the effect.

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Side effects of Teeth whitening kits

Jul09
2009 Written by admin

With launching of different teeth bleaching products, a few studies were also conducted to find out if there are any side effects of teeth whitening. Studies suggest that teeth whitening are by and large safe and very effective.

The most common side effect of teeth whitening is sensitivity. In some cases you feel irritation of gums as well. Often these side effects are because of poorly fitting mouth trays and whitening gel spilling over to the gums. These effects can be minimized by taking following steps.

  • If you feel you teeth highly sensitive during the first time use, it is advisable to stop the use of whitening kit for a few days. It can be resumed once the sensitivity is gone.
  • Too cold or too hot eatables should be avoided as much as possible. Sensitivity aggravates a lot if we do not take precaution while eating food.
  • There are various toothpastes which come with label “for sensitive teeth” should be used until your teeth start feeling normal.
  • Fluoride can be applied to teeth to replenish the damaged enamel coating which is possible if the peroxide filled mouth trays are worn for longer than recommended period.
  • You might also feel irritation in gums which can be easily treated by some common over the counter dental products.

As mentioned above there are no significant side effects of teeth whitening, but it must be noticed that in certain medical conditions, teeth whitening may not be effective. For example if there are cavities in your teeth or the stains are tetracycline stains, no teeth whitening will affect you. Moreover pregnant and lactating women should avoid going for teeth whitening.

One teeth whitening product may produce different results for different people , therefore you should not be disappointed if your teeth does not turn as white as your friend’s who used the same product. In such case just wait until a few whitening sessions are over.

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Teeth gel

Jul09
2009 Written by admin

With the introduction of many teeth gels that guarantee you a set of whitest teeth, dentists are apprehensive about its effect on their profession. It is well known that teeth gels or whitening gels produce the same effect on teeth that you get after a professional teeth whitening. However it goes without saying that expert supervision of dentist cannot be simulated by non medical people no matter how easy and user friendly the product is.

Teeth whitening gels are gradually replacing the toothpaste that we use. Though the whitening gels are somewhat different than normal tooth paste, people tend to use teeth whitening product even if they do not need it. These are hydrogen peroxide based gels. Hydrogen peroxide is the most common bleaching agent that is used in a few other bleaching products also.

However, the prolonged use of high concentration hydrogen peroxide may have some adverse effect on our teeth. As we know that the outer layer of our teeth the enamel coating which cannot be replenished if damaged once, we should take extra precaution before using whitening products.

Teeth gel that comes with almost all the whitening kits contain up to 15 % hydrogen peroxide should not be worn for more than 30 -40 minutes. During the whitening session the whitening agent gets into the enamel layer of our teeth and oxidizes the stains that have formed over the years.

There is common misconception among a vast majority of people that higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide means more whiteness. In fact, these high concentration peroxides should be administered only by a qualified dentist after a complete analysis of teeth and its texture. It is possible that your teeth do not require that high dose of peroxide. You might end up causing some permanent damage to your teeth. In such scenarios just consult your dentist to minimize the damage.

Teeth gels for whitening are only effective if it suits you. Expert advice from your dentists should be sought before using these gels in place of your regular toothpaste.

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Natural teeth whitening treatments

Jul09
2009 Written by admin

Everyone wants to have that perfect smile we only see on the faces of Hollywood stars. For that kind of smile a perfect and shining white set of teeth is very important. In fact because of this constant urge to look good, there has been sudden increase in the no. of do it yourself kind of teeth whitening kits. While chemical based whitening products have their own advantages, effects of natural teeth whitening products cannot be underestimated.

Nature has provided us with various kinds of natural teeth whitening fruits and vegetable which are effective enough to keep your teeth shining white always. Here is a list of some of the most commonly known natural teeth whitening products.

  • Lemon juice: This is effective but is not good for your teeth. The citric acid of lemon robs your teeth of calcium which weakens it. Is should be used very rarely and only if you want the result immediately.
  • Strawberry: it is good for your teeth and act as a whitener if you eat it regularly. However some people make a paste out of its pulp and use it as toothpaste. This kind of use of strawberry works exactly like lemon juice therefore should be avoided.
  • Vegetables: Some vegetable like cucumber, broccoli, carrot and radish work like scrubs therefore considered to be very effective for whitening your teeth.
  • Lye: wood ash which is known to have whitening properties can be used as toothpaste. Though effective for whitening it is not considered good because of its awful taste.
  • Baking soda: Though a chemical, it is so easily available it can be considered to be a natural teeth whitening product. In fact this is the most widely used home remedy for teeth whitening.

The most effective method to maintain the whiteness of your teeth is to change your eating habits which means quitting smoking, alcohol, and cutting down the consumption of tobacco, tea and coffee.

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How to whiten teeth

Jul09
2009 Written by admin

After years of smoking and consuming tobacco when teeth start turning yellow we start looking for how to whiten teeth. There are various treatments and procedures that we can go for. The most effective and perhaps the costliest way to whiten your teeth is to go for laser therapy if you can afford it. It is worth mentioning here that no matter what whitening procedure you go for, it will have to be repeated every few years to maintain the whiteness level.

In such a situation why not try something that is affordable as well as effective .You guessed it, home teeth whitening kit is what I am talking about. These kits are not only affordable but also as effective as professional teeth Whitening. These kits come with two mouth trays and peroxide based whitening gel. We fill the mouth trays with the whitening gel and put on to the jaws. The gel starts cleaning the stains as soon as the gel comes in contact with the teeth. We let the gel clean our teeth for 50 to 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes of whitening session we take the mouth tray off our jaws and make sure no peroxide remains sticking to our gums or teeth. Then we go ahead a rinse our mouth the way we normally do, or simply brush our teeth with normal tooth brush.

Care should be taken while purchasing the whitening kit. Initially trying some whitening toothpaste is a good idea. Only if the result of this toothpaste is not satisfactory should we go for whitening kit. These kits are highly effective and easy to use. Moreover there are various free trial offers for these whitening kits. You are required to pay for shipping and handling only. After using the teeth whitening products if you decide that the effects are good enough, you can pay the rest of the amount or have the subscriptions cancelled.

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Teeth whitening kits

Jul09
2009 Written by admin

Sparkling white teeth are a sign of good health and hygiene. This is the reason Teeth whitening kits are very popular among the health conscious people. As it is not uncommon to meet people who have yellow or brownish set of teeth despite being comparatively healthy, people use these kits for cosmetic purpose as well. Teeth whitening kits come in handy for everyone who wants to add some shine to their smile.

Though many brands of teeth whitening kits are available, doing some research about different features and effectiveness of these kits is always good .Following are a few points one should keep in mind before going for any teeth whitening kit.

  • There are instances of people using two or more methods of teeth whitening simultaneously which cause more harm to teeth than whitening them. In most of the teeth whitening procedures teeth sensitivity is felt for the first few days. This sensitivity is higher and stays longer if various methods are used at the same time.
  • In some people no sensitivity is felt therefore they do not mind eating something immediately after a whitening session. This should be avoided even if no sensation is felt. One should avoid eating or drinking for at least a few hours after the bleaching session.
  • Expert medical advice should be sought if you are pregnant, though there are no reports of teeth whitening process causing any negative impact. This precaution is based on the assumption that if some peroxide solution is swallowed it may cause some harm to the fetus.
  • Brushing your teeth with normal tooth paste should never be forgotten. As the hydrogen peroxide should not remain on the gums one should rinse one’s mouth properly after every session.

The teeth whitening effect largely depends upon person’s health, age and the texture of teeth, therefore one should not assume that if a particular teeth whitening kit shows effect in a week for someone, will be as effective for everyone. The effects may take some time to show up depending upon the above mentioned factors.

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Is home teeth whitening effective?

Jul09
2009 Written by admin

Questioning the efficacy of any new product is normal, therefore we come across this question” Is home teeth whitening effective” quite often. Home teeth whitening kits have become very popular among those who do not take care of teeth initially, but try to regain the whiteness as soon as first sign of yellow shade shows up.

Home teeth whitening is almost as effective and permanent as any professional teeth whitening done by a dentist. In fact the whole procedure that was done by dentists a until a few years ago is available in one kit now All you need to do is buy the kit and follow the instructions carefully. The only difference is that you will be doing it at home and not at your dentist’s office.

As the whole procedure and the whitening gel is the same as you find at a dentist’s office, there is no point questioning the effect of it. However there are chances that you may not follow instructions properly which may result in undesirable effects.

Care should be taken not to try to speed up the whitening process which is a time taking procedure. You save a lot of time and inconvenience by not visiting your doctor for bleaching teeth therefore all the instruction should be followed and enough time allowed for best results.

The bleaching gel should not be in contact with your gums of long which may result in irritation. This is what is taken care of by a professional dentist ensuring a perfect set of white teeth without causing any side effect like irritation or inflammation. These teeth whitening kits are highly effective if you can apply the gel properly and take all the precautionary measures.

Moreover, just to avoid any side effects you can always go for premedication before every bleaching session. By doing so you can minimize any side effects that you want to avoid. Summing up I must say that home teeth whitening kits are very cost effective as well as easy to use.

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Professional teeth whitening at home

Jul09
2009 Written by admin

With the growing no. of people going for professional teeth whitening at home, we find the market flooded with different whitening kits with different features. I must say that no matter what brand you go for, almost all the methods of teeth whitening follow the same procedure. Professional teeth whitening also includes laser technique, which of course is not possible at home.

Professional teeth whitening at home that we are aware of includes a kit with two mouth trays and a whitening gel. The mouth trays are made of material which can be molded to fit the
contours of your teeth and gums. This is what used to take a few visits to
dentist’s office before home kits became popular.

Now the trays can be molded easily at home. After molding the tray to fit your jaws you fill it up with the whitening gel that comes with it. Just place the gel filled mouth trays onto your jaws and let it do the whitening. In the meantime you can do some light activity like watching TV or reading a book.

This whitening gel which is hydrogen peroxide should remain in touch with your teeth for 15 to 60 minutes. The exact period of gel application varies from brand to brand; therefore following the instructions is advisable. After the mouth trays are removed make sure that you rinse your mouth properly or simply brush your teeth with your normal tooth brush.

You may feel some sensitivity in your teeth for a few days which happen with professional procedure as well; therefore you should not take it seriously. However if it persists, professional advice should be sought immediately. You will not be able to see the effect in the first session therefore the same procedure should be repeated many times a week
until you notice the whiteness in your teeth.

It must be kept in mind that there is limit to the whiteness that you can achieve depending upon your teeth type your overall health. The usage of teeth whitening kit should be discontinued as soon as you stop noticing any significant change in the shade of your teeth.

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