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Over-the-Counter Solutions for Teeth Whitening Discovered
For many, teeth whitening procedures include a trip to the dental office. This is partly true. But everyone should be reminded that there is more to the procedures that are performed in the dental office. There are other options as well available for many that can be performed and maintained in the comforts of the home. Examples of these options are the products that can be bought over-the-counter. These are the whitening formulations that are carried by supermarkets and drug stores. Listed below are some of the top over-the-counter solutions that you can choose for your issues with regards to your teeth.
Whitening strips and gels
Gels are popular solutions for teeth whitening. These are clear gels that contain a good concentration of peroxide- that main ingredient that facilitates teeth whitening. These gels are often applied to the surface of the teeth with the use of a small brush. Most of the gels that are available in the market will call for you to apply these gels at least twice a day and this should go on for the next 2 weeks. The results can be realized after a few days, and the white color of the teeth can be maintained for months provided of course that proper maintenance is made. The strips on the other hand are thin strips that are coated with the gel fortified by hydrogen peroxide. These strips are also attached to the teeth twice a day. The strips should remain in your teeth for at least 30 minutes before these strips can be removed. The use of the strips should be done on a continuing basis for the next 2 weeks, same thing with the gels.
On whitening rinses
Whitening rinses are new introductions in the market and getting popular as well. This works just like the mouth washes. And initially, these rinses are best in making breathe fresher. But the main intent of this product is primarily for teeth whitening and this is because of its main ingredient- the hydrogen peroxide. Just like the ordinary mouthwash, you just need to swish the waster around the mouth for the next 60 seconds, and this should be done at least twice a day. Use this product for the next 12 weeks and you will see the results that you are looking for.
Some users stand for the efficacy of these products. But there are some sectors that question the efficacy of whitening rinses in making the teeth whiter. The reason for this may lie in the amount of time that the water enriched with peroxide is in contact with the teeth. For the rinse, the peroxide is in contact with the teeth for 2 minutes a day. Contrast this with the contact that happens with the teeth and the peroxide for strips, where the strips need to be attached to the teeth for as much as 30 minutes!
With these options when it comes to teeth whitening, there should be no reason why you cannot find time to address your concerns with your teeth. They are easy to purchase and works just as fast.
Learn Your Teeth Whitening Options: From Professional Services to DIY Kits
So you have a low self-esteem right now no thanks to yellowish set of teeth. That’s tough, especially if you are the kind of person who puts a premium on the way you look and the way people look at you. But this should not be the end of the world for you. There are answers. And the answers to your problems are teeth whitening solutions that come in many forms and prices. We consider all these options available for you, and we check their differences and the benefits that can be delivered to you.
Options offered in supermarket and drugstores
For those who want to take care of the problem themselves, the products offered at supermarkets and drugstores are the solutions. These products that are available here will often contain lesser amount of whitening agents. Or the concentration of hydrogen peroxide for these products is less than what the professionals use. In many counts, the concentration of the peroxide for these products varies from 3 to 6 percent. For this reason, the efficacy and the reliability can be questioned depending on the actual product. For this set of bleaching agents, the usual recommendation is to use twice daily and the waiting time can reach two weeks before the effects can be realized. In terms of price, expect to pay $3 to $10 for teeth whitening toothpastes. And for other bleaching formulations, some over the counter products can fetch around $30.
Take home bleaching agents (Professional Strength)
Another option is to consider the professional strength bleach as recommended by many dentists. This option can come in two variants, the one with carbamide peroxide or the one with hydrogen peroxide. The bleaching formulation products will often come complete with the custom-fitted tray so that will be used by the dentist to get an impression of the teeth of the person. When this treatment option is considered, the treatment may be performed for as short as 30 minutes to as long as 8 hours. And what is the cost of this whitening solution? Expect to pay from $300 to $600 and this will include all the bleaching materials.
What about laser whitening
Laser whitening is done on the office or the clinic of the attending dentist. And in order to get the results, you may need to have one to four treatments. For this approach, gels are used and these gels do contain some peroxide-based formulations. And the use of the gels is complemented through the use of the lasers to facilitate the whitening process. You can consider this option as one of the most expensive solutions towards white teeth. You will need to have at most four treatments to get the results that you want, and each treatment will cost you at least $600.
Of all these options available, what could be best for your needs? In the end, the budget and your convenience will serve as the two primary factors in shopping for teeth whitening solutions. If budget is not an issue, then you can always go for the professionally-provided services.
If you are looking for the quickest way to whiten the teeth, then you may want to consider the in-office whitening. Under this procedure the whitening product, like the gel is applied to the teeth. And when used under the dentist-supervised procedure, this form of bleaching is used as complemented by a special light or the laser. In many cases, in just one visit the expected results can be seen immediately. But if the intent is to get that dramatic results in the form of shiny white teeth, then the person will need a number of visits to the dentist. And each of these visits will tend to lasts from 30 to 60 minutes. For a clearer picture on how the process is done, the following is the listing of the step-by-step procedure of this teeth whitening procedure.
• The first step is the polishing of the teeth with the use of the pumice. The polishing action is important as this will remove the plaque and dirt found at the surface of the teeth.
• The mouth will then be isolated with the use of the gauze. This is a necessary step so that the teeth will be dry for the rest of the procedure. There will be times when the retractors will be used as well, and this is important so that your lips and tongue will not get in contact with the whitening agents incorporated in the solution.
• Next up is the addition of the barrier on the gum line. This is done so that the whitening solution will not get in contact with the gum area.
• After this is done, the teeth will then be coated with the whitening formulation, and the coating will cover the surface of the teeth. And depending on the attending dentist, the formulation may contain the hydrogen peroxide or the carbamide peroxide. Either way, it can be expected that the whitening effect can be achieved. There are some cases when light or the laser will be used. The light will act as the heating agent that will be used to activate the peroxide content in the whitening formulation. The said whitening agent or formulation will then be allowed to stay on the teeth for the next 30 to 60 minutes. Again, the longevity of the process will ultimately depend on the manufacturer of the product or the whitening formulation.
• The moment that the intended shade of white has been achieved, then the teeth will be rinsed with water. And the use of toothpaste will be recommended. This is needed so that the person will not experience sensitivity.
Listed below are the basic steps that are performed by the dentist in relation to in-office teeth whitening. And after the procedure has been completed, then that is the time that the dentist may recommend some healthy eating habits. Or the dentist may recommend some eating habits. For example, you may be asked to avoid food items that are rich in pigment like coffee and tomato sauce.
In-Office Teeth Whitening – Common Procedures to Expect
This procedure is also known as power whitening. This is so because in-office bleaching methods have more bleaching concentration than that which is offered over the counter thereby producing faster results. In-office tooth bleaching is also the safest. Unlike tooth whitening done at home, in-office whitening is conducted and monitored by a professional practitioner. Risks therefore, no matter how low and the aftereffects no matter how mild is attended too eliminating discomfort.
Not everyone is a good candidate for in-office teeth whitening. People with tooth and gums hypersensitivity may undergo a different regimen or may be given home treatment kits for the patient to use though due to the patients hypersensitivity, the treatments and dosages are mild and will therefore take a longer period of time. Patients that have staining that are yet intractable may not be good candidates as there are stains that are resistant to bleaches. For one, bleaching may only highlight the resistant stained tooth as the other teeth are becoming whiter. Tooth transparency is not also a good candidate for in-office treatment. The front teeth most especially are very thin and gets more and more transparent with age. For this a different procedure may be taken.
Aside from those mentioned above, in-office whitening could be conducted with basically the same procedure. The teeth will be prepped by cleaning away the debris, dirt and plaque that have accumulated in-between and on the teeth. After that, a dental exam is conducted to check for cracks, tooth decay and gum problems. Photographs will then be taken which will be used as a benchmark when assessing the whitening progress. The shade of your teeth will also be measured thru the Vitapan shade guide to arrive at a correct shade that your teeth should have. The teeth are not expected to shade lighter than its natural cast.
Following that, a retractor will be placed inside the mouth to expose the teeth in the zone visible when you smile. A protective rubber dam is them placed in the gum to protect it from irritation when the bleaching gel is applied. The bleaching gel is then applied to the teeth and then rinsed off after at least 15 minutes after which another application of the bleaching gel will be applied and kept in the mouth for approximately the same period of time. Additional application of fresh bleaching gel could be opted depending on the development of the treatment and how the teeth have whitened. The gel is then rinsed off or suctioned and the cheek retractor is removed.
Immediately afterwards, the teeth will be several points lighter than its natural color. This is to be expected as a result partly of teeth dehydration. The real color will emerge though after a few days.
When the desired results are not achieved with the session, a follow up treatment will be recommended by the dentist to be scheduled at a future date. Usually though, a home bleaching kit will be provided.
Choosing Between At-home and Supervised Teeth Whitening Procedures
All options relating to teeth whitening can be broadly categorized into two. The first group of procedures and options fall under at-home teeth whitening procedures. The next set belongs to dentist-supervised teeth whitening procedures. Now which between the two is the better choice for someone looking to improve the looks of her teeth? What are the differences, if there are any? For those looking for answers, then the following resources will serve as a helpful guide in weighing the differences between the two. And the differences between the two categories are assessed using the following measures:
• Composition and the strength of the bleaching agent used. It is an accepted fact that the over the counter medications and formulations will contain less concentration of the bleaching agent. In many products, the concentration will only reach up to 10 percent. For the formulation that are used by the professionals that conduct supervised teeth whitening procedures, the formulation for the peroxide may reach up to 43 percent and the strength of the bleaching agent will depend on the service provider. This is the reason why those wanting immediate effects will go for the supervised services of the dentist.
• Design differences for the mouthpiece trays. The mouthpiece trays that are available for supervised whitening sessions are considered as more reliable as compared to the ones that are available over the counter. The basis for this is simple. At least with the dentist-supervised procedures, the dentist can visit the person’s home and can customize the site of the mouthpiece tray. This kind of customization ensures that the mouthpiece will be of perfect fit and that this maximizes the application of the gel that contains the peroxide. Contrast this with the commercially-produced mouthpiece trays which may be ill-fit for the person because the design of the trays is not intended for the person in the first place.
• The presence of protective measures. Did you know that you will be safer if you are in the hands of the dentist when doing the teeth whitening procedures? This is true because of the dentist-supervised procedures; the dentist will normally use the gel to the gum tissue in order to protect the gums from the possible effects of the process. You will not find these protective measures for the over-the-counter medications and formulations.
• In terms of cost? There is no argument in here. The dentist-supervised procedures are considered pricier if compared to the medications and formulations that can be had over the counter.
In the bigger picture you can sense that the supervised teeth whitening sessions are known for their added benefits and advantages for the person. And this is the reason why this is getting popular in the market, even if this cost more. At least with the supervised process, you get extra and preferential treatment from the attending dentist. And if the dentist founds out that what you need is more than teeth whitening, the he can always refer you back to your old dentist to address your more important dental concerns.
Are Porcelain Veneers Fit For Your Teeth Whitening Efforts?
If you are looking for solutions to improve the looks of your teeth, then chances are you have come across the porcelain veneers. These products are often marketed not just to correct uneven tooth alignment but these veneers are also looked at as something that can whiten your teeth. Originally, these veneers are used on the surface of the tooth in order to correct uneven teeth. And these products as well are used to cover misalignment of the teeth.
But more than that, oral practitioners have discovered other uses for these veneers. Right now, these are also considered as cosmetic veneers and they are used to deliver that bright and white smile.
Here are some of the major benefits of cosmetic veneers and porcelain veneers:
• These veneers are best to cover worn enamel. The enamel deteriorates over time and this can be expected. In order to cover the wear and the deterioration, then the porcelain veneers can be used.
• Also the use of these veneers is best for wear and tear. As people age, the teeth also suffers considerably. The teeth will crack or will have chips. And the veneers can be used to address this concern.
• Porcelain veneers are also best for use on uneven teeth due to tooth grinding, and can be used to correct the abnormal spacing in between the teeth.
The use of veneers is not actually recommended for all concerns relating to the teeth. For minor teeth issues of the teeth, the composite white filling can be used. For example for cracked and chipped teeth, this can be used. The filling is typically composed of the composite resin material which is bonded to the tooth so that the gap can be addressed. But for major teeth issues like wear and discoloration, then the porcelain veneers can be used as the answer.
For extreme cases of discolored set of teeth, the porcelain veneer can be used as well. When used and fitted the way, these veneers can promise longevity and will surely enhance the smile and the whiteness of the teeth. Another complementary role of the veneers is that its use can help protect the surface of the tooth. And in some cases, these veneers can also replace the dental crown.
If these veneers are selected for use in dental care and for cosmetic reasons, it is important that you must know a thing or two about these products. One thing that should be accepted is the fact that these dental veneers are relatively thin. And as such these veneers should be handled with care so that these will not break and damage. Whether you are using these dental veneers to correct the teeth or to whiten the looks of the teeth, the dentist may advise you against eating some food items. For example, eating carrots may be discouraged at first. But these are simple and small sacrifices compared to what you can get from the cosmetic and whitening effects provided by porcelain veneers.
