Frank is a smoker and his teeth are healthy but stained. He can not get rid of the coloration with tooth brushing so he is looking for alternatives. Should he go for Crest WhiteStrips or get a professional bleaching?
A professional bleaching costs much more money than WhiteStrips. And who knows if the strips work at all? He was not sure what to do. He wanted to visit his dentist anyway and so he asked him for advice.
The first thing the dentist recommended was to get a professional cleaning. This can remove a lot of the discoloration caused by smoking or other reasons. It is also not too expensive and healthy for your teeth. If there should be anything left then a bleaching can be considered.
Frank got the cleaning done which brought pretty good results. But he should have had such cleanings more often in the past. At least once per quarter. He is a strong smoker and not all of discoloration could be removed. A bleeching was the only choice.
The doctor told him that he could also try Crest WhiteStrips. It is a good product he said but not as strong as a in-house bleaching. If the WhiteStrips do not bring the results he could come back.
But from where does the staining come? The smoke of a cigarette leaves dark materials on the tooth enamel. If you are mild smoker you should be able to remove it with simple brushing. The doctor did not recommend one of these popular smokers toothpastes though. He said they are abrasive and when you use them frequently you can irreversibly hurt your enamel.
If you can not get rid of the dark material with brushing then the professional cleaning will remove most of it. Intrinsic stain is something different though. If you believe your teeth are too dark then you can get a bleeching. If even the professional bleaching does not help, you can get porcelain veneers. But they are very expensive.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Latest Methods For Tooth Whitening
If you look in the mirror and notice that your "pearly whites" aren't so pearly, you may wondering about the latest tooth whitening methods that are available. How do they work, and what is the cost? Do they actually make your teeth look whiter, and if so, how much?
Toothpastes
Using special toothpastes is one of the most common teeth whitening methods there is. There are many whitening toothpastes available, and many do quite a good job when it comes to just general buildup or discoloration. These pastes typically contain a bleaching solution and peroxide that are specifically designed for the enamel of teeth. These tooth whitening methods are typically very safe but not always as effective as one would want.
Gels and Strips
Over the counter gels and strips are other common teeth whitening methods there are. These are usually available at any pharmacy or retailer. These methods usually contain a small amount of bleach or peroxide that helps to restore the brightness of your teeth.
Many of these solutions are placed in a mouthguard that you wear overnight or for a certain number of hours per day. Some of these are strips that have a solution on them already and which you place over your teeth once or twice a day. Some need to then be removed while others simply dissolve.
These methods are typically much more effective than any other home treatments, however, there are some concerns you should consider. For one, your teeth may become more sensitive when you're using these products. The tissue in your mouth may also become irritated from the mouth guard or from the bleaching solution you're using. Some also have a very unpleasant taste this is hard to get rid of.
For most however these side effects are very mild and go away once the tooth whitening methods are done.
Tooth Whitening Methods In Your Dentist's Office
Many dentists have a variety of teeth whitening methods that they can offer. Most of these are just more concentrated forms of the home systems. Most involve a special cover that is put over your soft tissue and then a special bleach solution is applied to the teeth. These procedures typically take around 30 minutes to an hour, and you may need more than one procedure depending upon the actual discoloration of your teeth. Some tooth whitening methods use lasers to increase the effectiveness of the bleaching solutions, however, there are no laser treatments that currently have the American Dental Association's seal of approval.
If you are interested in any of these teeth whitening methods, you may want to start with a basic home treatment. And if these do not give you the desired effect, then you can speak with your dentist about more progressive treatment options.
Toothpastes
Using special toothpastes is one of the most common teeth whitening methods there is. There are many whitening toothpastes available, and many do quite a good job when it comes to just general buildup or discoloration. These pastes typically contain a bleaching solution and peroxide that are specifically designed for the enamel of teeth. These tooth whitening methods are typically very safe but not always as effective as one would want.
Gels and Strips
Over the counter gels and strips are other common teeth whitening methods there are. These are usually available at any pharmacy or retailer. These methods usually contain a small amount of bleach or peroxide that helps to restore the brightness of your teeth.
Many of these solutions are placed in a mouthguard that you wear overnight or for a certain number of hours per day. Some of these are strips that have a solution on them already and which you place over your teeth once or twice a day. Some need to then be removed while others simply dissolve.
These methods are typically much more effective than any other home treatments, however, there are some concerns you should consider. For one, your teeth may become more sensitive when you're using these products. The tissue in your mouth may also become irritated from the mouth guard or from the bleaching solution you're using. Some also have a very unpleasant taste this is hard to get rid of.
For most however these side effects are very mild and go away once the tooth whitening methods are done.
Tooth Whitening Methods In Your Dentist's Office
Many dentists have a variety of teeth whitening methods that they can offer. Most of these are just more concentrated forms of the home systems. Most involve a special cover that is put over your soft tissue and then a special bleach solution is applied to the teeth. These procedures typically take around 30 minutes to an hour, and you may need more than one procedure depending upon the actual discoloration of your teeth. Some tooth whitening methods use lasers to increase the effectiveness of the bleaching solutions, however, there are no laser treatments that currently have the American Dental Association's seal of approval.
If you are interested in any of these teeth whitening methods, you may want to start with a basic home treatment. And if these do not give you the desired effect, then you can speak with your dentist about more progressive treatment options.
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