10-10-2005 Tooth whitening
Tooth whitening or tooth bleaching has become increasingly popular, because white teeth look attractive; having white teeth is ‘cool’.
In an orthodontic office today’s patients do not only want straight teeth, they want straight white teeth.
Most dentists are offering ‘tooth-bleaching’ because their patients are asking for it; and those patients who do not have straight teeth still want white teeth.
Several questions need to be answered:
- Is tooth-whitening safe?
- How long does the bleaching effect last?
- What are the methods to whiten teeth?
- How long does the treatment take?
- What are the side effects of the tooth whitening?
Numerous studies have shown that tooth whitening is safe and any negative side effects are temporary.
The bleaching effect lasts for a long time. However, smoking or dietary habits like the consumption of food containing curry, the intake of Coca-Cola and other soft drinks, drinking coffee or tea will have a negative effect. To keep the teeth white, we recommend frequent brushing with undiluted Hydrogen Peroxide (available in any pharmacy or supermarket).
There are mainly 3 ways to whiten teeth:
- In office whitening using a laser light:
While there is an immediate bleaching effect, it takes approximately three to six one-hour sessions to get the maximum whitening effect.
- Tray-whitening using a custom made tray. This is by far the most popular whitening method today, because the trays filled with whitening material can be worn during sleep or, during the day whenever it is convenient. To get the maximum whitening effect it usually takes 3 weeks to 3 months.
- Using over-the-counter products available in any supermarket or pharmacy: They should not be used without consulting a dentist first.
What does not work is the use of whitening tooth paste to bleach teeth. The concentration of the whitening agent (peroxide) is too low and the time the tooth paste stays on the teeth is too short.
Tooth hypersensitivity is the most common side-effect of tooth whitening. However, this can be minimized using desensitizing toothpaste.
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