4 Most Common Questions About Teeth Whitening

Discolored teeth might make you feel conscious while smiling or talking to people. But with the option of teeth whitening available at dental offices and homes, people are now able to enjoy whiter and brighter teeth which they can flaunt confidently. Bleaching your teeth is one of the most popular procedures in cosmetic dentistry. 

The popularity of this procedure lies in the fact that statistically, people with white and beautiful smiles have more personal and professional success in life. An in-depth study revealed that those who donned white smiles were sixty-eight percent more successful professionally, fifty-two percent more trustworthy, and sixty-four percent more successful financially. Given this data, it is natural that people are opting for brightening their teeth.

In this article, you will understand more about the teeth whitening process and also get answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about this procedure.

What Happens In Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening lightens the color of your teeth by following procedures like physical removal of stain (or chemical reaction) from your pearly whites. We get stains on our teeth due to compounds that have darker shades known as chromogens. Chromogens can be intrinsic (inside the tooth) or extrinsic (on the surface of the tooth).

In teeth brightening, the active ingredient is typically hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) which can also be delivered as carbamide peroxide. When it comes in contact with water, carbamide peroxide breaks down to release hydrogen peroxide.The teeth-whitening solutions react with chromogens and make them lighter. 

Various Ways Of Brightening Your Teeth

Teeth whitening systems can be varied as described below:

Whitening toothpaste – The abrasives and detergents in whitening toothpaste are higher than standard ones and can remove tough stains. These kinds of toothpaste do not have bleach but contain low amounts of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which can lighten tooth color. You can get one to two shades of lighter-colored teeth with lightening toothpaste.

Whitening strips and gels – In the late 19800s, teeth brightening strips came out on the market. They are made of a thin layer of peroxide gel put on plastic strips, and their shape fits into the buccal surfaces of our teeth. These strips come with their set of instructions where typically, you would need to apply them for thirty minutes daily for two weeks to see results. They can lighten your teeth up to one to two shades.

Whitening rinses – These rinses have hydrogen peroxide in them, and in general, the manufacturer’s instruction says to rinse your mouth for thirty seconds twice a day. It can take around three months to see results with these products and improve the teeth shade up to one to two shades lighter.

Trays for brightening teeth – These trays can be bought OTC and are also available professionally. The trays are fitted to your teeth’s shape and contain carbamide peroxide gel. You need to wear them for two to four hours a day or overnight. If you follow the manufacturer’s instructions, you can see your teeth lightening by one to two shades within a few days.

In-Office Lightening of teeth – You can observe quicker lightening of teeth when the procedure is done in a dental office. The products that your dentist uses for lighting your teeth have higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide than OTC strips or rinses. You can see results in just thirty or sixty minutes of treatment and can get dramatic effects with several visits.

Frequently Asked Questions About Teeth Whitening

Once you decide to lighten your teeth, you might have many questions in your mind, like is it risky? How long will it last? And many others. Here we will answer four of the most common questions about teeth whitening:

How long will my teeth look bright? 

In general, teeth whitening will last you for a year. But keep in mind that the results vary greatly based on your lifestyle, the kinds of food and drinks you consume, and how committed you are to oral care.

How many shades lighter can my teeth become? 

The amount of whitening can not be predicted and varies from patient to patient. But in general, your teeth might become lighter anywhere between six to twelve shades on the shade guide. The amount of brightening you achieve also depends on how discolored your teeth are. 

Can teeth whitening work on dental restorations like crowns?

No, the chemicals in the teeth lightening procedure work only on natural teeth, but it is possible to restore the hue of false teeth with teeth brightening procedure.

What are the pros and cons of brightening my teeth with OTC products? 

Store-bought kits for lightening your teeth are extremely convenient and budget-friendly. Some of the products also have the seal of acceptance of ADA (American Dental Association). Some of the cons of these products are; you can overuse them, which might damage your teeth, or for some of you, the strength of these products might not be enough to lighten your teeth as desired.

Summing Up 

You can whiten your teeth at home or a dental office, but it is safer to go for professional whitening since it guarantees faster results, and there is no risk of enamel damage, as seen with OTC products.