Teeth whitening is a dental procedure, also known as teeth bleaching, that is a part of the field of cosmetic dentistry that whitens the patient’s teeth one to two shades lighter depending on their preference. Nowadays, the teeth whitening procedure is a worldwide demanded dental procedure that is done by almost everyone. Mostly the new generations are opting for this specific procedure. Who Can Get Teeth Whitening? Teeth whitening is not restricted to a specific gender. Both men and women can go for teeth whitening, but it is preferred that people who have unrestored teeth that are without any teeth fillings done are more suitable than those with teeth fillings present. The best candidates are those patients that have a yellow tone to their teeth since it gives much more prominent results. However, teeth whitening is not recommended for every age group and should only be done when necessary.

Why Would You Need Teeth Whitening? Patients are advised teeth whitening by their dentists when their teeth start to discolor. Discoloration occurs when the teeth start to change their color. The reason behind this are two common causes: Extrinsic factors: These are those factors or substances that come in direct contact with the tooth enamel. Some of them are as follows: -Food stuff: Coffee, tea, wine, carbonated drinks, sauces that include tomato sauce and soy sauce, and many fruits and vegetables like tomatoes and cherries are a source of staining of the teeth. -Use of tobacco: Tar and nicotine, which is the core substance of tobacco cigarettes, are the ones that stain the teeth. Tar is dark in color, and nicotine is colorless until it contacts the oxygen present in the atmospheric air. That then stains the teeth enamel. -Poor oral hygiene: Those people that do not clean their teeth regularly by brushing two times a day and flossing once a day leave plaque remains and other soft deposits that lead to staining of the teeth. -Restorative procedures and materials used: Some of the restorative materials used, like amalgam and other silver-containing materials, cast a grayish-black color on the teeth. This is very unpleasant to look at. Intrinsic factors: These are factors that affect the teeth appearance from within the body systems. Some of them are as follows: -Age factor: As a person ages, the color of the outer tooth enamel starts to wear away, and the underlying dentin, which is normally yellow in color, starts to show, giving the tooth a yellow glow. -Hereditary: This is another intrinsic factor that plays a role in the staining of the teeth. Some people are just born with the god-gifted brighter and pearly white teeth set. -Traumatic injury: During childhood, any kind of trauma to the developing tooth bud may disturb the normal development of that tooth. This may also cause discoloration of the tooth in the secondary dentition. Too much fluoride intake: If the intake of fluoride is more than 5 ppm, which can come from any source, that is environmental sources like high fluoride levels in the water that is drunk or fluoride content in the toothpaste. More than 5 ppm is high and can cause discoloration of the teeth. -Medicines: The antibiotics that are tetracyclines and doxycycline, when given to children before they grow, can and will mostly lead to brown streaks of the teeth that may be of both the primary and permanent dentition. -Medical conditions: Diseases that can affect enamel and dentin can also cause tooth discoloration. Treatment of various diseases can also cause tooth darkening.

Procedure For Teeth Whitening There are several ways to say goodbye to yellow teeth and help gain a brighter and healthier smile. They are the following: In-office whitening procedure The steps followed during this procedure are not painful, nor are they uncomfortable. The patient is relaxed throughout the treatment and may even doze off. The steps included are: -Firstly, a cheek retractor is used to expose all the anterior teeth that are usually seen when a person smiles. -A liquid rubber dam or a hardened resin is painted over the gum so that the soft tissue is not irritated by the bleaching agent. -Then, a bleaching agent mostly containing hydrogen peroxide is used. This is applied to the anterior teeth and left for about 15 to 30 minutes. -In some of the whitening procedures, an intense light is used that can accelerate or speed up the bleaching process. However, there are contradictions as to whether light therapy is effective or not. -Between each gel application, the teeth are checked to see how well they have whitened or whether more bleaching agent is to be applied. -After the final gel application is made, the cheek retractors are removed, and the patient rinses. Immediately after the shade is measured. The teeth may whiten two or three shades lighter. The final color will emerge after a few days. Take-home whitening trays Whitening trays are not something everyone can do. For this, custom-made trays are manufactured to ensure the whitening solution is properly distributed. If this is not done, most of the solution would be wasted. The steps are as follows: -Firstly, an impression is taken of both the upper and lower arch by using mostly alginate or by putty material. This is then sent to the laboratories to make the custom trays. This process may take up to one or two weeks to complete. -In the meantime, the original shade of the patient’s teeth is recorded on the dental chart for comparison with the teeth when whitening is completed. -When the trays are ready, an appointment is made to show how to properly dispense and apply the whitening solution. Other instructions needed are provided by the dentist to obtain better results. -Before application, the patient must brush, floss, and rinse. -The procedure is performed an hour per day for two weeks. Some brands can also be worn overnight. You would need to avoid eating, drinking, or smoking while wearing the trays and continue to do the same for 30 minutes after. -After two weeks, a follow-up appointment is made to check the progress and compare it with the reference shade. -Any additional teeth whitening solution can be used for follow-ups. FAQs -Is Whitening Your Teeth Permanent? No, teeth whitening is not permanent. It can last from months to years, but it varies from person to person. It will last longer if the person does not eat or drink stuff that stains teeth. -What Can You Not Do After Teeth Whitening? Patients should avoid eating or drinking stuff that stains their teeth, such as tea, coffee, wine, tomato sauces, and many other fruits and vegetables. -Does Whitening Damage Your Teeth? There's a chance your gums will be sensitive to the chemicals used in teeth whitening, particularly if you already have sensitive teeth. There's also a chance of burns to gums, and some of the whitening kits used at home can harm tooth enamel when used improperly.