What You Should Know About Teeth Whitening
Do you worry about the discoloration of your teeth? Are you shy to show off your smile because of how your teeth look? There is a solution to almost all of your dental concerns, including improving their color. Dentists have done it for a long time now, and you can also benefit from professional teeth whitening services.
What is Teeth Whitening?
It is the process of professionally bleaching teeth using special whitening products to make them look brighter. Teeth discoloration can happen to anyone. You can decide to consider teeth whitening near you right away if you have discolored teeth.
Even then, it is important to know that teeth discoloration happens differently for people. As you consider visiting a teeth whitening clinic in La Grange Park, IL, here are some of the risk factors for discolored teeth:
- Poor oral hygiene – some people are very reluctant when it comes to caring for their teeth. Failure to brush and Floss regularly allows for plaque to form on the surfaces of teeth. Plaque is a sticky substance that consists of food residue, bacteria, saliva, and acids. The substance forms in the surface of teeth as another layer. The color of plaque is yellowish or whiteish. It, therefore, compromises the natural color of teeth. Worse, plaque build-up invites several other dental problems.
- Smoking – most smokers have stained teeth.
- Acidic foods – they corrode the external part of the tooth, causing it to thin out.
- Aging – aging allows for thinning of the enamel. As the enamel thins, the color of the teeth change. Technically, the enamel is brighter in color than the dentin part of the tooth. Therefore, the more the enamel thins, the more the dentin is exposed.
- Alcohol intake – excessive intake of alcohol can stain on your teeth. This also includes consumers of wines that are heavily pigmented.
- Medication – Some medications can cause staining of teeth.
Details on Teeth Whitening Methods and Procedures
Teeth whitening dentist in La Grange Park, IL, offers the best whitening services for patients. The methods involve the use of different dental products to initiate the whitening process on Teeth. It is important to have your teeth professionally cleaned by an expert instead of doing it all on your own. The danger of teeth whitening is that, if you go overboard with the whitening process, you risk other dental problems, including weak enamel, and increased tooth sensitivity.
Your dentist will check the state of your teeth as the first step. This is important for preparation to help understand the severity of discoloration on your teeth. Afterward, the process will involve the following steps:
- Teeth cleaning – your teeth have to be professionally cleaned to get rid of any plaque and tartar. If poor oral hygiene was your main cause of discoloration, your teeth should already start looking brighter.
- Whitening process – the whitening process can be done in two main ways. The two differ in where you get your teeth whitened.
In-office whitening – the entire process of whitening your teeth happens in the dentist’s office. The process involves the use of peroxide-based bleaching agents in a concentration of between 15% and 43%. The bleaching agents are applied to your teeth in gel form. Afterward, special ultraviolet light and heat are passed over the gel. Lasers can also be used as an alternative. Their purpose is to speed up the bleaching process since all the whitening has to be achieved within that day. Depending on the concentration of peroxide used, the whitening gel can be left on for a long time or not. The longer the gel is left on your teeth, the whiter they become. However, if the concentration is too high, it should be left on for a short time to prevent damaging the enamel through dehydration and increased sensitivity. If the first round does not achieve the expected results, your dentist might repeat the controlled process for up to 3 times.
At-home whitening – under some circumstances, a dentist will recommend an at-home treatment, especially where stubborn stains are involved. This involves using a mouthguard-like tray that is filled with a peroxide-based bleaching gel or paste. The tray is placed over your teeth to ensure the whitening substances stay on for a specified amount of time. The tray is custom-fitted to ensure effectiveness in the results afterward. For at-home whitening, the concentration of peroxide-based content is reduced significantly. It ranges between 3% and 20%.