Enjoy a healthy and radiant smile
Today’s beauty standards may lead you to believe that your smile should be white and radiant to be healthy. But is this really the case? A normal phenomenon of aging is that your teeth change colour. There are also many factors that can influence tooth colour, such as the colour of your clothing, skin tone and makeup.
Types of bleaching
There are 2 types of teeth whitening, each with different ingredients and varying degrees of effectiveness. They open up the pores of your teeth with an acidic agent to release the colour. This is why teeth whitening causes tooth sensitivity.
Tooth-surface whitening
The first type contains tooth-surface whitening products. These products have an abrasive effect on the tooth surface to remove stains. They are found in toothpastes or gums, where they are added to enhance the whitening action. They will not cause excessive wear to your teeth and are not a substitute for professional cleaning. Their action is limited to certain types of stains.
Bleaching products
The second type of teeth whitening is bleaching products. These peroxide-based products modify your teeth’s colour. To use them, you need to consult your healthcare professional to determine the cause of discolouration and assess whether whitening products could be effective. The reason? They are not effective on all types of discolouration. Your healthcare professional will offer you the right type of bleaching for your teeth. Bleaching can be done on living teeth, where stains may have been caused by food or tobacco, or on dead teeth that have been blackened by root canal treatment.
Whitening products offered by dentists
Your dentist can offer you a variety of whitening products. Whitening can be performed at home or the dentist's office. When done at home, customized trays made from your dental impressions will be supplied with a whitening gel to be applied according to your healthcare professional's instructions for a few days. However, the effect is temporary, and bleaching loses effectiveness over time.
Whitening can also be carried out directly on the dentist's chair with a concentrated whitening solution activated by heat or light and heat. This solution is made with highly concentrated ingredients, so it's vital that it's done properly by a health professional to avoid damaging your teeth and gums. Some dentists use technologies that feature infrared rays and lasers. It should be noted that these methods are not yet recommended, as studies on the subject are limited; we cannot determine their efficacy and safety.
Dental whitening products in pharmacies
When it comes to teeth-whitening products in pharmacies, when used properly and according to directions, they can be effective and safe. However, they can irritate gums and make teeth more sensitive. They should, therefore, be used sparingly, and frequent treatments should be avoided.
Homemade whitening solutions
Who hasn't heard of making a homemade lemon juice and baking soda toothpaste? This grandmother’s trick should be taken with a grain of salt. Lemon juice is an acid that irritates teeth. Its effectiveness is unproven, and regular use can be risky. It is best to avoid this trick.
The impact of smoking
The leading cause of tooth discoloration is smoking. Smoking cessation has many health benefits. Your healthcare professional can help you make this important change, so don't hesitate to consult them.
The best tips to avoid staining your teeth
Good dental hygiene includes brushing after every meal, flossing every day and rinsing with a good mouthwash. This will help prevent stains from remaining on your teeth. Coffee, alcohol, citrus fruit, and tomatoes are more likely to stain teeth, so regular brushing is important when eating these foods.