How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

September 1, 2021

Your smile does have an impact on your confidence. When your teeth are flawed by stains or discoloration, you tend to be self-conscious and hold back for fear of being negatively judged by others. However, a brighter smile means increased self-confidence that allows you freely interact with people. Tooth discoloration and staining is bound too occur at some point in your life but there are treatments for teeth whitening in Hamilton, ON, to help you with this.

There are many factors that can cause your teeth to lose their brightness and whiteness. Some of the factors can be controlled by adjusting our lifestyle while others can’t. Lifestyle habits that cause tooth discoloration include use of tobacco products, poor dental hygiene and high consumption of staining foods or drinks like coffee, wine, colas and tea. All these can be controlled by just being more aware of the choices you make and the consequences. Nonetheless, discoloration due to trauma, genetics and ageing usually cannot be controlled in any way.

So, whatever the reason for your dull smile, the good news is that teeth whitening in Hamilton, ON can help whiten and brighten your smile.

What is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure that helps improve the shade of your teeth by eliminating any signs of discoloration and staining. The treatment does not guarantee you will have a snow-white smile but it can make your teeth several shades lighter. It can be achieved through use of bleaching or non-bleaching products. Bleaching products contain a compound known as carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient to help eliminate stains on the tooth’s enamel. On the other hand, non-bleaching products work through a physical action such as abrasion, in an attempt to remove stains and discoloration.

How it Works?

You can choose to whiten your teeth at home, or go to a dentist near you to have a professional whitening treatment. Home-based whitening kits are available over the counter and come in a variety of forms. They include gels, strips, trays or even toothpastes. They are all peroxide based products except for whitening toothpastes that rely on abrasion to scrub away stains. For safety, home-based bleaching products have a 3 to 20% concentration of hydrogen peroxide.

If you opt to visit a teeth whitening dentist, the procedure will yield results much faster. Dentists usually use a stronger bleaching solution than those found in home-kits. A dentist also has the necessary skills and resources which makes the procedure more effective.

It is important to first review the state of your oral health before you can begin a tooth whitening treatment. for in-office treatments, the process begins with a consultation where the dentist gets to examine you as well as try to understand your medical history. The results from this stage will determine if you can proceed with the treatment or not. You need to have healthy teeth and gums before undergoing teeth whitening. In case you have any illnesses, you first have to undergo treatment.

If you are a good candidate for the procedure, your teeth will first be thoroughly cleaned to remove any superficial stains or discoloration. A protector is then placed on the gums before the whitening compound is applied onto the teeth’s surface. A blue light may be used to help the whitening gel/paste work faster. You will need to undergo a couple of treatments before you can notice any significant change to your teeth. Your dentist may also provide you with custom-whitening trays to continue the whitening process even while at home. These trays are usually more effective than those bought over-the counter since they provide a suitable fit to match the shape the size and shape of your teeth.

For the first few days after teeth whitening, it is common to experience increased sensitivity. You should not worry as this side effect will wear off with time. Also, the results from a whitening treatment will not last forever, especially if you do not take proper care of your teeth. So, even after whitening, dentist still recommend that you continue to brush and floss at least twice daily and that you pay attention to how your lifestyle affects your teeth.

For any questions or concerns you may have, visit a dentist to learn more about teeth whitening near you.

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