Dental bleaching

Dental bleaching is a procedure related to cosmetic dentistry. Basically, dental bleaching involves using various different methods to make one’s teeth whither and more aesthetically pleasing.

Our teeth may lose their whiteness due to many different reasons. First of all, aging darkens the teeth since the mineral structure inside them changes, affecting the color of the enamel. Therefore, children usually have whiter teeth than adults. Additionally, a person’s lifestyle may contribute to the aesthetic deterioration of his/her teeth.

Furthermore, tobacco, coffee and some other types of food and beverages may stain our teeth. Bacterial activity inside our mouth can have the same effect since these microorganisms produce pigments on the surface of our teeth.

Either way, when a person is dissatisfied with the shade of white that his/her teeth possess, dental bleaching is an excellent thing to opt for.

Dental Bleaching Methods

Once you decide to have your teeth bleached, you have two main options to choose from. Namely, you can turn to at-home solutions, purchased over-the-counter and applied by yourself, or in-office bleaching, undergoing the procedure at the dentist’s. Even though at-home dental bleaching can be an effective way of achieving proper teeth whiteness, it is best to consult with your dentist before trying any products on your own.

The products you can use for these purposes include teeth whitening gels, rinses, toothpastes, chewing gums and many other alternatives.

At-home Dental Bleaching

As far as bleaching gels are concerned, you can use high or low concentration types. Moreover, the former variant can be your dentist’s choice too. The bleaching gel presents an oxidizing agent which you are supposed to apply on a tray and place onto the teeth, leaving it on for a limited period of time, usually not exceeding 20 minutes. Once this is done, you remove the trays and, if necessary, repeat the procedure again. The results of this form of procedure are instant.

On the other hand, low-concentration variants, purchased over-the-counter are not as effective. These commonly have the form of a mouthguard or a strip which contains the oxidizing agent, keeping it in contact with the teeth. In general, people need to wear the product for a couple of hours daily, over a period of up to 15 days. Due to the smaller concentration of bleaching agents in these alternatives, the results may not be as satisfying as the ones achieved through professional process of dental bleaching.

In-office Dental Bleaching

If you decide to pay your dentist a visit, the procedure will be carried out professionally. Here, the dentist will perform proper examination of the tissues and existing crowns or other results of previous dental procedures. X-ray scanning of the teeth may be necessary as well, helping the dentist obtain more information on your dental condition.

The most common in-office bleaching procedure involves removing plaque from the surface of the teeth, isolating the mouth with gauze, placing a barrier along the gums and, if necessary, using retractors for protecting the cheeks and the tongue. Then, the dentist applies either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide on the surface of the teeth, using a curing light, laser or some other source of heat in order to activate the agent. The whole process lasts for up to 60 minutes. However, in cases of re-application of the agents or some complications, the time length of the procedure may increase.

Finally, the dentist rinses the teeth with water and fluoride and gives you instructions regarding home care and matters of precaution.

Risks Related to Dental Bleaching

Certain health dangers can be related to teeth bleaching. For example, in cases of gel use, any contact with any part of your body other than teeth may result in chemical burns, especially if high-concentration bleaching agents are used.

Alternatively, the procedure may whiten the teeth excessively, giving a negative result.  Also, the agent may reach the inside of a tooth, leading to pain and discomfort.

Ultimately, according to several medical studies carried out recently, some dental bleaching procedures may increase one’s chances of developing tongue cancer.

To sum up, if you desire to make your teeth whiter, dental bleaching is the procedure for you. You can choose from various available methods, deciding either to do it yourself and save the money, potentially risking jeopardizing your health or failing to achieve the desired effect, or pay your dentist a visit and undergo the process under professional conditions.

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