Teeth Bleaching or Whitening?
The term whitening refers to restoration of the teeth's natural color by the removal of dirt, debris or stains. Therefore every product that cleans teeth may be considered a whitener, such as a toothpaste. On the other hand, the term teeth bleaching is used when the teeth whitening goes beyond the natural teeth color. This can be done through products that contain bleaches like hydrogen peroxide or the slower carbamide peroxide.
Of course, the term teeth whitening sounds more acceptable than teeth bleaching, so it is also more commonly used, even when the products used contain bleaches.
There would be no need of teeth bleaching if we all retained the sparkling white teeth of our childhood. That color was due to the enamel that covers the teeth surface and protects them from the damaging effects of chewing and gnashing of food as well as bacterial stains, tobacco stains, etc. However, over time the enamel wears down, develops millions of micro cracks and becomes transparent as a result of which the yellow colored dentin – the teeth's core material – starts showing through.
At the same time, debris and stains gradually fill up in the cracks of the enamel. As a consequence, the teeth eventually become dull and lackluster in appearance.
Teeth Stains are of two types – external and internal. External stains appear on the surface of the teeth as they are exposed to dark colored foods, beverages, tobacco, etc, and also because of routine wear and tear. Normally external stains are removed with cleaning and brushing. However, stubborn external stains require more involved effort. If not dealt with in time, they can penetrate into dentin and become ingrained within it. Teeth bleaching prevents this from happening.
Internal stains are formed inside teeth surface. They are caused by aging, trauma, exposure to antibiotics like tetracycline during teeth formation, or excessive intake of fluoride. Earlier, it was believed that internal stains could not be removed by any method. But now, cosmetic dentists believe that even the deepest internal stains are removable through properly supervised teeth bleaching.
Teeth Bleaching Options
Cosmetic dentistry today offers three options. All three differ in the concentration of various bleaching agents or peroxides used and the time of application required.
In-Clinic Teeth Bleaching
In-clinic teeth bleaching is administered by the dentist or a trained technician in an actual clinic. Your dentist first secures the gums with a paint or rubber cover and then applies on the teeth a bleaching gel with high concentrations of peroxide, for several 15-20 minute sessions. The total duration of application adds up to one hour at the most. However, those who have particularly stubborn stains may have to return for one or more sessions or continue with a home use teeth bleaching system.
In-clinic teeth bleaching gives good and noticeable results in a short period of time. Costs can be quite high however (due to the professional time of your dentist and/or assistant).
Teeth Bleaching Take Home Kits (Professionally Dispensed)
Many dentists provide take home teeth bleaching kits that contain easy-to-use gels with lower concentrations of peroxides. These are applied on the teeth for about an hour or longer, sometimes overnight. In general, the lower the peroxide concentration, the longer the duration of application. The kit contains custom made trays resembling mouth guards to apply the gel with.
Take home teeth bleaching kits that are professionally dispensed (from your dentist) are believed to produce the best results in the long run. Costs are significantly lower than in-clinic treatment.
Teeth Bleaching Take Home Kits (Over the Counter)
These kits can be purchased from stores without consulting a dentist. They consist of low concentration bleaching gel and standardized size trays, or bleaching strips and paint-on applicators.
Over the counter teeth bleaching kits are the cheapest and the most convenient, but the use of standardized size trays often results in whitening of a few front teeth only. The custom trays, on the other hand, can whiten the entire smile.
Over the counter teeth bleaching is generally more affordable than in-clinic whitening or professional kits.
Risks of Teeth Bleaching
Teeth bleaching is generally safe when the procedures are followed in the proper way. However, it also involves some risks which you should know about:
Sensitivity: Teeth bleaching, particularly that which uses higher concentration of peroxides, may cause a temporary increase in teeth sensitivity. Some individuals may even experience a sharp shooting pain in the middle of their front teeth. Those with receded gums or cracks in teeth are more at risk of sensitivity or pain.
Sensitivity from teeth bleaching usually does not last more than two days, but may persist for up to a month in some cases.
Gum Irritation: About 50% of those who use teeth bleaching experience some degree of gum irritation, which may last up to several days and will dissipate after the bleaching has stopped.
Technicolor Teeth: Teeth restorations like crown or porcelain veneer are not affected by bleaching and retain their color. On the other hand the surrounding teeth get whitened. This may result in an odd looking array of color amongst your teeth.
Barring these temporary problems, teeth bleaching works for most people. However, results take at least two weeks to appear fully. Moreover, they are not permanent; they need to be followed up with continued care to maintain the brightness of your smile. So, taking care of the proper precautions, you can use teeth bleaching to restore the beauty of your smiles and buoyancy of your laughs.