Teeth whitening involves a procedure to make teeth whiter, and there are several ways to get it done. If you aim to get whiter teeth and achieve a brighter smile but are hesitant, wondering if it’s safe, consult a dentist to get your doubts cleared. Yes, there can be many reasons why you would want to go for teeth whitening, and visiting a dentist could help you learn about teeth whitening methods that would suit your needs.
Read this blog to take a look at how teeth whitening works, how safe it is, and how to do it right.
Why Do You Need Teeth Whitening?
Your tooth can get discolored or stained mainly due to extrinsic and intrinsic factors.
When your teeth get discolored due to the consumption of certain food or beverages or a lifestyle habit like smoking, it stains the external layer of your tooth, which is the enamel. Usually, long-term consumption of coffee, tea, wine, and tobacco contributes to extrinsic discoloration.
On the contrary, intrinsic discoloration means the stains are deep inside the tooth and may result from medication use, tooth trauma, infection, overexposure to fluoride, or a childhood illness, or also could be due to aging.
If you have been observing the color of your teeth changing from natural white to yellow, brown, or black, it’s the right time to seek professional help.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Teeth whitening can be performed at home with products prescribed by a dentist to use at home regularly. If your teeth are required to have a more aggressive treatment, a dentist will carry out a teeth whitening treatment procedure under professional supervision, and it may last for an hour.
It is always advisable to go for whitening procedures performed in the clinic as they take less time to show results than over-the-counter options. An at-home teeth whitening kit may be costly and not yield satisfactory results if not done under professional supervision.
What Are The Teeth Whitening Procedures?
The standard methods for teeth whitening can be categorized into two:
At-Home Treatment
An at-home teeth whitening regimen may include using a whitening toothpaste, whitening strips, and whitening gels. These teeth-whitening products focus on removing stains that are extrinsic. Using these products may help in preventing further discoloration of teeth and make your teeth look naturally white gradually over time.
Professional Teeth WhiteningÂ
Look out for more advanced teeth whitening techniques and procedures that work by visiting a dentist. A professional teeth whitening procedure works wonders both on extrinsic and intrinsic stains and keeps the problem of teeth discoloration at bay. Dentists use the right concentration of whitening agents like hydrogen peroxide to reduce stains on your teeth and achieve desired results faster. Your dentist may also include laser therapy as a part of your teeth whitening treatment to achieve better results.
What Are The Risks?
Teeth whitening products may contain bleach and higher or lower concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and, therefore, should be used with caution. To avoid any side effects like gum irritation or tooth sensitivity, use products that are dentists approved. A teeth whitening procedure done in a dental clinic is, however, a safer option as it is administered by dentists under complete supervision.