How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dental procedure performed in the United States, and for several great reasons! Whitening your teeth can give you a brighter smile, enhance your self-esteem and even lead to greater success in work and love.
Stains on your tooth enamel can affect the cosmetic appeal of your smile. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body; it covers the surface of a tooth to protect it from decay and damage. Just beneath the thin layer of enamel is dentin, a yellowish substance that makes up most of the tooth.
There are two types of stains: extrinsic or intrinsic.
Extrinsic stains occur on the surface of teeth, and typically develop as the result of food, drink or tobacco. These substances can contain highly colored molecules that accumulate on the surface of tooth enamel to cause extrinsic stains. These stains can be difficult to get rid of with regular oral hygiene, so many people turn to teeth whitening.
Intrinsic stains occur on the inside of teeth, in the dentin. These stains often develop as the result of antibiotic use, excessive exposure to fluoride, and thinning enamel. Intrinsic stains may even develop as the result of genetics. Intrinsic stains may be present in an adult tooth even before it erupts through the gum as a child.
When it comes to whitening your teeth, you have two options: using an over-the-counter product or having professional teeth whitening from your Ballwin dentist. They each use different whitening actions to make your teeth look brighter.
Many of teeth whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide, which is a natural bleaching agent that works by breaking down the molecules that cause tooth stains and then carrying them away to reduce or even eliminate stains. After putting hydrogen peroxide on the surface of teeth, it breaks down and its molecules spread out through the enamel and dentin. These molecules lift stained molecules away from the enamel.
Over-the-counter whitening products may also contain another oxidizing agent, carbamide peroxide. While hydrogen peroxide is often useful for short periods of time, carbamide peroxide is usually used at lower concentrations and over a longer period of time. This is because hydrogen peroxide breaks down much more quickly than carbamide peroxide.
Over-the-counter products work moderately well, providing noticeable results over the course of weeks or months. Oxidizing agents can be aggressive and irritating, though. With continued or excessive use, they can cause tooth sensitivity or pain, or redness and bleeding of the gums.
Whitening toothpastes and polishes may contain baking soda, which is an abrasive substance that scrubs stains from the surface of teeth. Whitening toothpastes may contain another abrasive substance: charcoal. These products may also contain carbamide and hydrogen peroxide.
Abrasives may damage tooth enamel if used too long or too often. Since enamel is not made up of living tissue, it cannot repair itself after damage. In other words, once your tooth enamel is gone, it’s gone. To help prevent damage from teeth whitening, some over-the-counter products contain fluoride.
Professional teeth whitening works extraordinarily well, as dentists have access to the most powerful (and safest) whitening agents and procedures available, such as KÖR whitening. Your dentist can use stronger concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, for example, and can combine whitening agents with a high-intensity light, like LED, UV or halogen to promote the oxidative process and stain removal.
In-office whitening typically takes only about an hour and can whiten teeth up to 16 shades. Many dentists follow up in-office teeth whitening with take-home maintenance kits to help patients maintain their great smiles. These kits can include whitening trays, gel, and desensitizers.
For more information on how teeth whitening works, connect with 100 West Dental. Our dentist provides teeth whitening in Ballwin, along with other dental services to keep your teeth healthy and looking their best.
We'd love to provide you and your family with an unexpectedly awesome dental experience. Call (636) 585-0100 or schedule online to set up your visit. We'll be in touch soon.
