Personally, I never thought about professional teeth whitening treatments or at-home teeth whiteners until I turned forty. It was around then that my sister had some work done on her teeth, which included having them whitened. Her teeth looked so striking that it caused me to start thinking about my own teeth. I realized how much whiter my teeth used to be when I was younger. I decided to look into what professional teeth whitening involved.
Reasons for Teeth Whitening
There are tons of different reasons to want to whiten your teeth. Like many people, years of coffee, tea, colas and other offenders can cause your teeth to appear stained. If you happen to be a smoker, this is another big reason for yellowish and stained teeth. Social drinkers can add red wine to the list. These are just a few of the common reasons that people end up needing a teeth whitener. It may even be that you have a special engagement or event that you have to attend and you want to display brighter teeth. Some individuals may have serious problems with prominent stains and yellowing. Others, like me, may just want to brighten up their smile out of pure vanity. Either way, teeth-whitening is a good way to make a truly noticeable difference in your smile’s appearance.
How Teeth Whitening Works
The way professional teeth whitening systems work is really simple. There are two methods commonly used. One is the power bleaching system. With power bleaching, a light or other heat source is used to help the whitening gel penetrate tooth enamel. The other system relies on custom made trays that contain teeth whitening gel. These trays are to be worn on you teeth at night.
Power Bleaching
This method of professional teeth whitening requires one to three dental visits to complete the procedure. Each visit should take approximately 30 – 90 minutes. The cost can range anywhere from $500 – $1500.
Custom Trays
This professional method of whitening your teeth requires anywhere from two to five visits to complete the procedure. Each visit can take from 30 – 60 minutes each. During the various visits, the dentist will make impressions of your teeth for the custom trays. The dentist will also fit the trays and monitor your progress on the remaining visits. This is a more involved method of teeth whitening than power bleaching. You will be required to fill, clean and wear the trays every night for two to three weeks. This method is considerably less costly than the power bleaching system. The price can range anywhere from $400 – $800.
Professional Teeth Whitening Alternatives
Sometimes it might be necessary to find an alternative to having your teeth bleached or whitened by a professional. This is what I did after considering the prices of both the custom tray method of teeth whitening and the power bleaching method. Neither was in my budget at the time, plus, my decision to whiten my teeth was not really out of necessity. I decided to look for over the counter remedies to my not so white anymore teeth. There are actually some effective whitening toothpastes and various teeth whiteners you can use at home.
Alternatives to professional methods include teeth whitening paint-on-products, Crest Whitestrips and Colgate Simply White Clear Whitening Gel. Yellowing and stains caused by caffeine, nicotine and colas can usually be treated by using at home teeth whitener kits. Depending on the condition of your teeth, these do-it-yourself home teeth whitening kits can be very effective. Keep in mind that over-the-counter teeth whitening systems and methods won’t be as strong as what the professionals use.
New Teeth Whitening Enhancer
According to a New York press release, a “Revolutionary toothbrush based teeth whitening product” is now available. The new PearlinBrite Whitening Enhancer is easy to use. You simply apply it to your toothbrush, just like toothpaste. In fact, you even put it right on top of your normal toothpaste so that it becomes a part of your daily regiment. The teeth whitener is a fast acting gel with a highly effective hydrogen peroxide base. Dr. Jan Linhart, DDS is the developer of the whitening enhancer. Dr. Linhart, recommends using the new gel along with PearlinBrite Aloe Vera Toothpaste with Fluoride. Both products can be purchased via the Manhattan based cosmetic dentist’s office or website.
Effective Teeth Whiteners
There are important points to remember in order for teeth whiteners and teeth whitening systems to be effective. Experts like Dr. Raymond Garrison provide advice about what to eat in order to help keep teeth white after bleaching. Dr. Garrison is a professor and chairman of the Wake Forest Baptist Department of Dentistry. He tells us that fruits and vegetables like apples, green beans, cauliflower, carrots and celery all help to scrub your teeth while you chew. These firm foods also aid your teeth by promoting the flow of saliva. Garrison says that saliva protects the teeth by neutralizing acids. Here are some other things to keep in mind about teeth whitening.
- You should discontinue activities and behaviors that lead to discolored teeth, such as smoking
- Monitor your food choices and eliminate items that lead to stained and yellowing teeth, such as coffee, tea and red wine.
- Limit the use of teeth whitening methods and treatments. Overdoing it can result in short periods of tooth sensitivity. In cases of extreme overuse, erosion of tooth enamel can result from bleaching and whitening.
Typically, teeth that have been stained by tetracycline and other antibiotics will not whiten. Whatever the condition of your teeth, be realistic about your expectations. Teeth whiteners can brighten your teeth and make a noticeable difference, but your teeth won’t be white as snow. Consult with your dentist about teeth whiteners that are sold over-the-counter. Ask whether or not your teeth would respond well to a professional teeth whitening treatment.
Sources:
A New Kind of Teeth Whitening: PearlinBrite Whitening Enhancer
Watch What You Eat After Teeth-Whitening, Expert Says
