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The following article was published in Your Health Magazine. Our mission is to empower people to live healthier.
Aisha Nasir, DDS
Teeth Whitening Give Me the Facts
Sweet Tooth Family Dental
. http://sweettoothdentalva.com/

Teeth Whitening Give Me the Facts

Brushing and flossing are everyday ways to keep your teeth clean and healthy. Still, if you feel like your smile is not as white as it used to be, you're not alone. Thinking about teeth whitening? Get the facts first.

Why Did the Color Of
My Teeth Change?

Food and Drink Consumption of red wine, coffee, tea, cola, carrots, oranges and other deeply-colored beverages and foods causes considerable staining over the years.

Tobacco Use/Smoking Nicotine leaves brownish deposits which slowly soak into the tooth and cause discoloration.

Age Over time, the outer enamel layer gets thinner with brushing and more of the yellowish dentin shows through.

Trauma Any history of trauma to your tooth may lead to change in color because it reacts to an injury by laying down more dentin, which is a darker layer under the enamel.

Grinding Most frequently caused by stress, teeth grinding can cause micro-cracks in the teeth that lead to darkening of the biting edges.

Medications/Chemicals Tooth darkening can be a side effect of certain medications like tetracycline, antipsychotics and antihistamines

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

Whitening products contain one of two tooth bleaches (hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide). These chemicals break stains into smaller pieces, which makes the color less concentrated and your teeth brighter.

Do All Teeth Whiten?

No. Whitening will not work on caps, veneers, crowns or fillings.

Whitening Options

Whitening Toothpastes All toothpastes help remove surface stains through the action of mild abrasives that scrub the teeth.

Over-the-Counter Teeth Whitening The gel is applied to the teeth via one-size-fits-all trays, whitening strips or paint-on applicators. In many cases this may only whiten a few of the front teeth unlike custom trays that can whiten the entire smile.

In-Office Bleaching Also called “chairside” bleaching usually requires only one office visit. Significant color change in a short period of time is the major benefit of in-office whitening. This protocol involves the carefully controlled use of a relatively high-concentration peroxide gel, applied to the teeth by the dentist.

At-Home Bleaching The gel is applied to the teeth using custom-made bleaching trays that resemble mouth guards.

Teeth Whitening Risks

Sensitivity Bleaching can cause a temporary increase in sensitivity to temperature, pressure and touch. Individuals at greatest risk for whitening sensitivity are those with gum recession, significant cracks in their teeth or leakage resulting from faulty restorations.

Gum irritation Gum irritation typically lasts up to several days.

Contraindications for whitening

Pregnant or nursing women are advised to avoid teeth whitening. The potential impact of swallowed bleach on the fetus or baby is not yet known.

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