Pros And Cons Of Different Ways To Whiten Teeth
If you’re hoping to have your teeth whitened, then there are several effective methods that have been evaluated by the American Dental Association (ADA), some of which have received its Seal of Acceptance. In its February 2008 statement about teeth whitening systems and their safety and efficacy, the organization distinguishes first of all between those whitening methods that actually bleach the teeth and go beneath the surface to alter their color, and those methods that only remove surface stains. Some of the different ways to whiten teeth are safe enough to use at home, while others should only be applied in a dental office.
Both in your home and by the dentist, most of the bleaching is accomplished with peroxide. Home kits generally contain a 10% carbamide peroxide concentration, while your dentist uses products having a much greater concentration of hydrogen peroxide, frequently as high as 15 to 35%.
At-home systems are quite safe, but the process might take a number of days or in some cases weeks before the person sees an obvious improvement in color. Conversely, someone can have a whitening procedure performed in only a couple of hours with controlled applications of the stronger mixture by a dentist.
This doesn’t mean that getting one’s teeth whitened in a dentist’s office guarantees no side effects or potential problems. There can still be cases of temporary tooth sensitivity or gum irritation, and on rare occasions there have even been incidents in which irreversible damage has occurred to the teeth. Nor are these problems unknown even using the less concentrated home teeth whitening methods. So the best course might still be to have the whitening procedure done in a dentist’s office, so there will be trained supervision and quick action in the case of problems.
The final method of having one’s teeth whitened is by using a whitening toothpaste, which requires much less caution because it doesn’t involve the same harsh chemicals. Indeed, toothpaste only cleans surface stains by means of a lightly abrasive polish, so when it comes to dental whitening, it’s a pretty lightweight method. If someone wants a deeper color transformation, then the kits or dental work will be required. And that’s when the information provided by the ADA will come in most handy.
The popularity of teeth whitening products and procedures has grown enormously in the last little while. Lots of people are becoming aware that a white smile is a great way to look more attractive, not to mention younger. Find out what your choices are in an over the counter teeth bleaching product at the Teeth Bleaching site.
