Teeth Whitening
Teeth yellowing and discoloration are common phenomena in many people. However, reversing the yellowing and returning to bright and white teeth is easy. This could be done clinically via a dentist's teeth whitening procedure. This non-surgical procedure does not cause pain or discomfort while giving you a confident smile for the win.
What is Teeth Whitening?
The teeth whitening procedure uses medical-grade bleaching agents to remove teeth discoloration. It is a noninvasive procedure that does not require tampering with the teeth, jaw, or oral tissues. Therefore, it is completely painless. The dentist can either perform this treatment at the clinic or provide DIY kits so you can whiten your teeth at home. However, teeth whitening should only be done by or under professionals to avoid damage to the enamel.
Benefits of Teeth Whitening
Enhanced Appearance: Teeth whitening helps fight the discoloration of teeth and improves the appearance by brightening the smile.
Boosted Confidence: White teeth boost your confidence, which makes you smile and socialise more. Increased confidence also helps in a better personality.
Non-Invasive Procedure: Teeth whitening is safe and painless. It does not interfere much with teeth and gums; it simply polishes the outer layer to make it look whiter.
Quick Results: Teeth whitening is a quick procedure that takes one session with the dentist to provide instant whiter teeth.
The Teeth Whitening Process
Initial Consultation: During the Initial consultation for teeth whitening, your oral health is checked, and your eligibility for a teeth whitening procedure is examined.
In-Office Whitening: This professional teeth cleaning procedure is performed by dentists in a clinic. It uses special light treatments in combination with high-concentration bleaching agents to accelerate whitening. In-office whitening takes about an hour and provides instant whitening.
At-Home Whitening Kits: Dentists provide at-home whitening kits so you can whiten your teeth yourself. These kits contain custom plastic trays and lower-concentration bleaching gels. The gel is put in the trays, which must be worn for a specific amount of time every day until you achieve the desired brightness level. This can either be done instead of in-office whitening, or as a post-treatment care to maintain the results.
Caring for Whitened Teeth
Daily Oral Hygiene: Brushing twice daily, flossing daily, and rinsing are crucial to maintaining whitened teeth. Oral hygiene is the key to good oral health and a bright smile.
Lifestyle Considerations: Some foods and beverages, such as beets, colored drinks, candies, tea, coffee, and wine, are known to stain teeth and tongue. Avoiding these after the teeth whitening process can reverse the results.
Touch-Up Treatments: Touch-up treatments like DIY teeth whitening, fluoride mouthwash, and fluoride toothpaste can help maintain teeth whitening results for longer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The results after teeth whitening can last up to a few months or a year, depending on the maintenance techniques and lifestyle choices.
Yes. Professional teeth whitening and dentist-suggested DIY teeth whitening kits are safe for the enamel. However, the same cannot be said about beauty shop treatments or market-bought teeth-cleaning kits.
Temporary sensitivity can be observed for a few days after the teeth whitening treatment. However, this sensitivity reduces in a few hours, which dentist-prescribed solutions can manage.