Have you ever wondered why teeth get dark, just out of curiosity? Or, have you even thought about how to answer this simple question?
Tooth discoloration is not something to be taken lightly, but the case should get lighter to make a smile look better.
There are many things that can stain teeth. The most common reasons are different from the ones below:
- Old fillings
- Ageing
- Drinking things that stain teeth, like tea, coffee, and colas. 3. Too much fluoride and using abrasives (which only expose dentin and causes severe discoloration)
- Staining from the antibiotic tetracycline
- Heredity
Whitening toothpastes can reduce the amount of stain on the surface of the teeth. Dentists also call this kind of staining "extrinsic staining." But professional dental cleanings and whitening toothpastes won't change the fact that teeth are naturally stained, as long as they are used correctly. This is the main reason why bleaching or whitening teeth are so common.
Most teeth-whitening treatments fall into one of two categories:
- Whitening systems for professionals
Most of the time, dentists do this by using whitening gels and lasers to make the solution work. Most of the time, this is done in a dentist's office.
- A way to whiten your teeth at home
This could be done between professional treatments with whitening kits and tray-based techniques, or it could be done at home with things from the kitchen and medicine cabinet. Most of the time, these treatments are done at home and according to how often dentists or the product's instructions say to do them.
How does the tray-based method of whitening teeth work on the patient? Read about the four-step process below:
A tray that fits just over the patient's teeth is covered with whitening gel.
- The gel's active ingredient, carbamide peroxide, will break down so oxygen can get into the enamel and bleach the stained areas.
By doing this, the physical structure of each tooth doesn't change. Crowns, fillings, and bonding won't get lighter, but the coloured substances will.
- Dentists make moulds or casts of the tray to fit their patients' needs. It is very important for the treatment that the trays are accurate.
Here are some follow-up questions about the tray teeth whitening method that most patients want to know.
Is the method safe?
Most dentists agree that tray bleaching or whitening is safe, quick, and makes it easy to lighten your teeth by two to five shades in a few days.
What makes this different from other systems used by professionals to whiten teeth?
Here is a list of some professional teeth-whitening products that dentists can choose from when putting together a professional teeth-whitening system. In parentheses, you can see what kind of bleaching laser or light is being used.
- Rembrandt Sapphire (plasma arc light)
- BriteSmile (light emitting diode/gas plasma light)
- Zoom! (metal halide light)
- LumaArch (halogen light)
- LaserSmile (a Biolase laser)
Most of the time, laser treatment is done by putting a gel with 35% hydrogen peroxide on the patient's teeth. After putting the solution on the surface of the teeth, the peroxide in the gel is turned on by shining a light a few inches away from the patient's mouth. Some dentists and manufacturers say that this method works better than the tray whitening method. There are no real numbers to back up what they say.
In fact, treatments with whitening gel and a laser aren't necessary after a year of living normally (drinking tea, colas, coffee, smoking, etc.). To get the same treatment again will cost you another $500 or more.
But with the custom-made "mouthpieces," you can keep living your normal life for a year and do inexpensive touch-ups one day every three to six months to get rid of the new stain.
