What exactly is tooth whitening?
The basic concept of teeth whitening is the bleaching of the outer layer of teeth so that your teeth’s colour lightens by various shades. It cannot make your teeth sparklingly white but it does get the job done.
Who can I approach for teeth whitening services?
This type of service is mainly done by a certified dentist in a dental office. Dental hygienist or dental therapists can also perform such whitening sessions. Never approach someone without valid dental certification when it comes to such services. While there are a few beauty salons offer such services they are illegal and it is advised to stay away from them.
What happens during the teeth whitening session?
Teeth whitening is not done in a single session. It is a time consuming treatment which takes weeks through a few scheduled sessions. Most dentists take an impression of your teeth and make a mouth guard out of it. Then he or she will instruct you on how to use it with a bleaching gel. After that, you will have to use the mouth guard at your home and keep bleaching your teeth as the dentists has instructed.
Another type of whitening is laser teeth whitening. This works by applying a cleaning or whitening component on your teeth and then a laser is used on the teeth to activate the whitening. Laser whitening takes comparatively less time than regular whitening mentioned earlier.
Is teeth whitening suitable for everyone?
No, teeth whitening is not for everyone. People with crowns or gum diseases cannot get teeth whitening done due to fear of the reaction with the bleach. This prevents anyone with such issues to get teeth whitening done.
Is teeth whitening permanent?
Teeth whitening is not permanent. The effects of teeth whitening can stay around for a few weeks to three or four years. It is not possible for the teeth to stay in the same shade over time and especially for people who smoke, drink red wine, tea or coffee as these activities stain your teeth the most.
Can fake teeth be whitened?
No, fake teeth cannot be whitened through teeth whitening.
Are there any risks involved for teeth whitening?
Whatever dental treatment you seek, there is always a risk to your teeth and gums. If you have very sensitive teeth or gums, you may experience burning sensations and sometimes if teeth whitening is done by an inexperienced dental specialist, the tooth enamel can get damaged.
As you now know the answers to some of the questions that pertain to teeth whitening, it’s also good to visit an experienced dentist who conducts teeth whitening procedures for his or her patients regularly for accurate advice based on your unique situation.