Teeth Whitening: The process wherein the color of the teeth is lightened is called as tooth whitening. There are various reasons for teeth getting discolored. The main causes are stains of tea, tobacco, coffee, antibiotics etc. These can be removed by tooth whitening. People who have sensitive teeth should not use teeth whitening. People with sensitive teeth would have more problems if they use teeth whitening solutions.

There are many tooth whitening treatments available, some of them are:

1) Bleaching kits: Tooth bleaching solution is applied to the mouth tray and it is inserted into the mouth. After an hour or two or as mentioned in the kit the tray is removed. Most of them work for an hour. The solution contains peroxide, which bleaches the enamel. The carbamide peroxide content in the solution is normally of ten, sixteen or twenty two percent. Some bleach is used twice a day for two weeks while others are used overnight for 1-2 weeks.

2) Laser tooth whitening: A solution is applied on the teeth. A wall made out of rubber is placed on the teeth and the laser is directed towards the teeth and the heat generated enters the teeth through the solution and the treatment takes an hour or so. After the treatment is completed you can see the changes.

3) Whitening Toothpastes: These toothpastes have special chemicals that remove the stains. The main advantage of the whitening toothpaste is it does not change the natural color of the teeth. Colgate Simply White Advanced Whitening Toothpaste is recommended.

4) Tooth whitening strips: These strips are placed on the teeth and are removed after 30 minutes. These are very effective and are recommended. They also contain peroxides.

If the above mentioned ways of treatment are done properly then there won’t be any problem. There is no long-term data on safety of these tooth-whitening treatments.

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So what is teeth whitening really all about? The following report includes some fascinating information about teeth whitening–info you can use, not just the old stuff they used to tell you.

Tooth bleaching, also known as teeth whitening, is a common procedure in general dentistry but most especially in the field of cosmetic dentistry. Many people consider white teeth to be an attractive feature of a smile. A child’s deciduous teeth are generally whiter than the adult teeth that follow. As a person ages the adult teeth often increase in value–that is to say, they become darker. This darkening is due to changes in the mineral structure of the tooth, as the enamel becomes less porous. Teeth can also become stained by bacterial pigments, foodstuffs and tobacco.

As white teeth are subconsciously associated with youth, they have become desirable. This has been made more apparent with the spread of American culture worldwide, where an especially white smile is coined a “Hollywood smile.” The procedure to bleach teeth uses oxidising agents such as hydrogen peroxide to lighten the shade of the tooth. The oxidising agent penetrates the porosities in the rod-like crystal structure of enamel and oxidises interprismatic stain deposits; over a period of time, the dentine layer, lying underneath the enamel, is also bleached.

There are two main methods of bleaching. The first involves applying a high concentration of oxidising agent for a short period of time, which is the so-called office bleach. This produces quick results but risks chemical burns to the soft tissues. Therefore, most in-office bleaching procedures use a light-cured protective layer that is carefully painted on the gums and papilla (the tips of the gums between the teeth). The bleaching agent is either carbamide peroxide, which breaks down in the mouth to form hydrogen peroxide, or hydrogen peroxide itself. The bleaching gel typically contains up to 35% hydrogen peroxide equivalent.

The alternative method involves using a thin mouthguard or strip to hold a low concentration of oxidising agent next to the teeth for as long as several hours a day for a period of 5 to 14 days. This is known as take-home or over-the-counter bleaching. This is a slower process but has fewer risks to the soft tissues. The bleaching agent is typically less than 10% hydrogen peroxide equivalent.

A typical course of bleaching can produce dramatic improvements in the cosmetic appearance of most stained teeth; however, some stains do not respond to bleaching. Tetracycline staining may require prolonged bleaching, as it takes longer for the bleach to reach the dentine layer. White-spot decalcifications may also be highlighted and become more noticeable.

Recently, efforts have been made to accelerate the bleaching process by the use of light. Studies have shown varying results as to the efficacy of light-activated bleaching.

Side effects of tooth bleaching include chemical burns (if a high-concentration oxidizing agent contacts unprotected tissues, which may bleach or discolor mucous membranes), sensitive teeth, and overbleaching (known in the profession as “fridge-door teeth”). Rebound, or teeth losing the bleached effect and darkening, is also an issue, with some studies showing the rebound effect over 30 days. A recent study by Kugel et al has shown that as much as 4 shades of lightness can be lost over 30 days with light-activated/office bleaching.

Permission is granted to reprint this article as long as no changes are made, and the entire resource box is included.

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Don’t Be Poisoned With Your Sparkling White Teeth

Of course, every one of us desires to have a charming smile with our teeth sparkling. That is why we sometimes try almost all brands and all kinds of toothpaste just to know which one will give us the best results. There is actually no harm in doing that. However, we must be aware that this product that we use everyday may cause harm to our body a well.

One of the main ingredients of toothpaste is fluoride. However, some toothpastes contain huge amounts of this chemical. Excessive fluoride inside our system can cause several problems like chronic fatigue, arthritis, rheumatism, constipation, and maybe cancer. According to the World Health Organization and the US Environmental Protection Agency, fluoride is considered to be an unclassifiable carcinogen.

There are also other chemicals found in toothpastes that are, sometimes, not even listed in the tube. Chemicals in toothpaste, when we use them, get absorbed by our teeth and gums. And since there are times that we swallow toothpaste along with our saliva, these chemicals reach some parts of our gastro intestinal tract as well. These chemicals can cause stiffness in the joints and muscles all over our body because they are being poisoned by these elements. Our nerves can also be affected which can cause spasms and pain.

Some toothpastes claim to have formula against sensitive teeth to prevent pain in the gums and teeth. The reason why these can prevent the pain is the manufacturers include pain killers in these toothpastes. As people use them everyday, the nerves in the mouth slowly dies as they get poisoned by these chemicals. Eventually, it will also spread to all the nerves in our body.

Regular ingestion of these harmful chemicals from toothpastes can also cause our breathing to be shallow. Our blood can get poisoned and makes our heart beat go wild. This poisoning with toothpaste chemicals can cause muscle cramps in different body parts. And since it affects the blood and the heart, there is a possibility of a heart malfunction in the future.

There are some toothpaste that also prevent gum bleeding. This is possible because of blood-clotting chemicals that are put into these products. However, these agents not only can stop the bleeding in gums, but can also develop blood clots which can lead to strokes and heart attacks.

Depression and restlessness can also be the side effects of these chemicals in toothpaste. Eventually, the different poisoning effects in the use of regular commercial toothpaste may lead to different kinds of AIDS depending on the toxicity produced by these chemicals.

One kind of chemical that was found in some toothpaste is the sodium laurel sulfate or the SLS. This chemical has a bad effect on our immune system. It can cause skin inflammation and separation of the layers, as stated in the Journal of the American College of Toxicology in 1983. SLS can also lead to permanent eye impairment according to Dr. Keith Green of the Medical College of Georgia.

Though these effects may not be seen right away, it is the long-term effect of these chemicals in our body that is really disturbing. And the fact that these products are part of our daily lives, we may be at a huge risk to these side effects without knowing it.

Alternatives:

Just like other products, there are always alternatives to these things that we are already used to. We just have to learn to explore and search for much safer products in your favorite grocery store.

There are several toothpaste now available in the market that are all natural. Some of them are made up of fruit extracts and essential oils. These kinds of organic toothpaste do not contain sodium fluoride in them and other toxic chemicals found in the regular ones. Though they are made from different ingredients than the regular ones, do not discount them for their quality. These organic toothpaste also can whiten your teeth, freshen your breath, and eliminate teeth and gums sensitivity. You can also combine a little gel with a drop of miracle ii soap for a wonderful toothpaste.

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