Teeth Whitening or Dental Bleaching is one of the most common procedures in cosmetic dentistry. The whitening procedure restores the natural color of the teeth and bleaching whitens a few shades higher than whitening.

Only people with healthy teeth and gums which have no fillings should try Teeth Whitening processes.

A number of products are readily available for this purpose including whitening toothpaste, bleaching strips, bleaching pen, over-the-counter gels, rinses, trays, and more.

Causes of Teeth Staining

Fruits, such as berries
Drinks, such as wine, coffee, tea, cola, and sports drinks
Smoking and chewing tobacco
Poor Dental Hygiene
Few diseases and their treatment procedures including radiation & chemotherapy
Medications, such as, Tetracycline & Doxycycline Antibiotics, Antihistamines, Antipsychotic drugs, and medicines for High Blood Pressure
Mouthwashes containing Chlorhexidine and Cetylpyridinium Chloride
Dental materials, such as, Amalgam Restorations
Genetics
Advancing Age
Trauma

Treatment Modalities Available:

Use of Whitening Toothpaste: Toothpaste helps remove stains on the surface of the teeth. Some whitening toothpastes are more effective in removing stains as they contain mild polishing or chemical agents. However, they are not helpful in removing stains deep in the teeth.

At-Home Whitening: Use of various products at home helps whitening teeth. These include over-the-counter whitening strips, gels, rinses, tray-based tooth whiteners, and more.

Whitening strips are strips coated with a peroxide-based whitening gel. These strips when applied for 30 minutes, twice daily, over a period of two weeks give good results.

Whitening gels are similar to the strips.

The only difference being it is available in gel form and its application requires a brush. Whitening teeth using whitening rinses is also an important and effective method. A One-minute rinse, twice a day with whitening rinses is helpful in removing teeth stains.

However, this product may have a lesser impact as compared to the gel and strips as its contact with the teeth is for a shorter time. Another effective method of Teeth Whitening is the use of tray-based tooth whitening systems. This process includes using a mouth guard-like tray containing the peroxide-bleaching agent. The tray when kept in the mouth for a couple of hours during the day and throughout the night for a month gives good results.

In-Office Whitening: This is the fastest method of Teeth Whitening and requires a visit to the Dentist. During the process, the Dentist applies the whitening product to the teeth and activates the whitening using a laser. A 30 to 60 minute treatment at regular intervals can give the desired results.

This process, also known as Laser Whitening or Power Whitening is a preferred method because the dentist secures the rest of the mouth, including the gums from these stronger agents.

Dentists do not recommend Teeth Whitening to:

Pregnant & Lactating Women
Aged People
Children below 16 years
People with sensitive teeth and gum diseases
People allergic to peroxide
People with fillings, crowns, and other restorations in their teeth

Risks Associated With Teeth Whitening

Tooth Sensitivity and/or,
Mild Irritation

Both these side effects are usually temporary and disappear on their own. To reduce sensitivity & irritation the patient must:

Give a break to the process to allow the teeth to get used to the treatment
Use a toothpaste made for sensitive teeth
Wear the tray for a shorter period
Take the advice of the Dentist

Follow-up Care

Teeth Whitening is not a permanent solution. A good follow-up care may result in the whiteness staying for a longer period. Adopting the below-mentioned follow-up care tips may help:

Avoid consumption of foods and drinks that stain teeth
Brush or rinse immediately after consuming any stain-causing food or drink
Adopt a good dental hygiene consisting of brushing twice a day and using of floss at least once
Visit the dentist once every 6 months