Tooth whitening is a procedure that lightens teeth and helps to remove stains and discoloration. Whitening is among the most popular cosmetic dental procedures because it can significantly improve how your teeth look. Most dentists perform tooth whitening.
The outer layer of a tooth is called the enamel. Every day, a thin coating forms on the enamel and picks up stains. Tooth enamel also contains pores that can hold stains. Whitening is not a one-time solution. It will need to be repeated from time to time if you want to maintain the brighter color.
What It's Used For?
The most common reasons for teeth to get yellow or stained are aging, tobacco, tea and coffee. All of these can stain the surface of the teeth.
It is also possible to have stains that are inside the tooth. These are called intrinsic stains. For example, intrinsic stains can be caused by exposure to too much fluoride as a child while teeth are developing. Other causes include tetracycline antibiotics. They can stain a child's teeth if taken by a mother during the second half of pregnancy or by a child who is 8 years old or younger. Teeth are still developing during these years.
Tooth whitening is most effective on surface stains caused by age, foods or drinks.
There are two types of tooth stains:
INTRINSIC STAINS (Internal stains):
This means the stain occurs from within the tooth. This type of stain cannot be removed by brushing and flossing and sometimes bleaching may not be effective. Some causes of intrinsic staining are injury to the tooth, certain medications (such as tetracycline) taken during tooth formation stage or an excess fluoride ingested during the formation of teeth.
EXTRINSIC STAINS (External stains):
This is staining of the tooth surface. Some sources of extrinsic stains are cigarettes, cigars, paan masala , coffee, tea, or foods that contain a lot of spices. This type of staining can sometimes be removed by good tooth brushing habits or by professional oral prophylaxis (scaling). Occasionally people experience temporary discomfort during the bleaching treatment, such as tooth sensitivity. These symptoms are transient & disappear within one to three days after completion of the treatment. It is important that the manufacturer’s directions are followed precisely.Overall, tooth bleaching under professional supervision is an effective method for whitening the teeth.
Bleaching
Bleaching is one of the most common procedures of dental cosmetics. It brightens teeth that are discolored, stained, or have been darkened because of injury or drinking habits. Any tooth, even those that have had root canal surgery, can receive bleaching treatment. This can be done by a dentist in the dental clinic or at home.