teeth whitening reviews
In the burgeoning industry of cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening leads the charge. Beauty Offers considers that teeth whitening reviews should help you choose the treatment that’s right for you. Universally valued by all men and women alike, whitening (or bleaching) treatments are available to satisfy every type of staining, budget, time frame and temperament.
Whether in the form of one-hour bleaching treatments at your dentist’s office, or home-use bleaching kits purchased at your local drugstore or over the internet, teeth whitening solutions abound. Yet only a very small proportion of the population has used the cosmetic procedure, and misinformation on the subject is widespread. Teeth whitening reviews offer a great source of valuable information.
teeth whitening review
The long and the short of it is that teeth whitening works and is confirmed by many teeth whitening reviews. Almost everyone who opts for this cosmetic treatment will see moderate to substantial improvement in the brightness and whiteness of their smile. However, teeth whitening is never a permanent solution and requires maintenance or “touch-ups” for a lasting effect.
Bleaching vs. Whitening
According to a major dental association, the term “bleaching” is permitted to be used only when the teeth can be whitened beyond their natural color. This applies strictly to products that contain bleach – typically hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.
The term “whitening,” on the other hand, refers to restoring a tooth’s surface color by removing dirt and debris. So any product that cleans (like a toothpaste) is considered a whitener. The term whitening sounds better than bleaching, so it is more frequently used – even when describing products that contain bleach.
Teeth Whitening Reviews – Examining Enamel
Most of us start out with sparkling white teeth in our childhood, thanks to their porcelain-like enamel surface. Composed of microscopic crystalline rods, tooth enamel is designed to protect the teeth from the effects of chewing, gnashing, trauma and acid attacks caused by sugar. But over the years enamel is worn down, becoming more transparent and permitting the yellow color of dentin – the tooth’s core material – to show through.
During routine chewing, dentin remains intact while thousands of micro-cracks occur in the enamel. It is these cracks, as well as the spaces between the crystalline enamel rods, that gradually fill up with stains and debris. As a result, the teeth eventually develop a dull, lacklustre appearance.
Teeth whitening reviews show that teeth whitening removes the stains and debris, but leaving the enamel cracks open and exposed. Some of the cracks are quickly re-mineralized by saliva, while others are filled up again with organic debris.
Tooth Discoloration: The Two Types of Tooth Stains
There are two categories of staining as it relates to the teeth: extrinsic staining and intrinsic staining. Many teeth whitening reviews shows that staining plays an important part in the success of teeth whitening.
Extrinsic stains are those that appear on the surface of the teeth as a result of exposure to dark-colored drinks, foods and tobacco, and routine wear and tear. Superficial extrinsic stains are minor and can be removed with brushing and prophylactic dental cleaning. Stubborn extrinsic stains can be removed with more involved efforts, like teeth bleaching. Persistent extrinsic stains can penetrate into the dentin and eventually become ingrained if they are not treated early.
Intrinsic stains are those that form on the interior of teeth. Intrinsic stains result from trauma, aging, exposure to minerals during tooth formation and/or excessive ingestion of fluoride. In the past, it was thought that intrinsic stains were too resistant to be corrected by bleaching. Today, cosmetic dentistry experts believe that even deep-set intrinsic stains can be removed with supervised take-home teeth whitening that is repeatedly applied over a matter of months or even a year.
What Causes Tooth Staining?
Age: There is a direct correlation between tooth color and age. Over the years, teeth darken as a result of wear and tear and stain accumulation. Teenagers will likely experience immediate, dramatic results from whitening. In the twenties, as the teeth begin to show a yellow cast, teeth-whitening may require a little more effort. By the forties, the yellow gives way to brown and more maintenance may be called for. By the fifties, the teeth have absorbed a host of stubborn stains which can prove difficult to remove.
Starting color: We are all equipped with an inborn tooth color that ranges from yellow-brownish to greenish-grey, and intensifies over time. Yellow-brown is generally more responsive to bleaching than green-grey.
Translucency and thinness: These are also genetic traits that become more pronounced with age. While all teeth show some translucency, those that are opaque and thick have an advantage: they appear lighter in color, show more sparkle and are responsive to bleaching. Teeth that are thinner and more transparent – most notably the front teeth – have less of the pigment that is necessary for bleaching. According to some cosmetic dentists, transparency is the only condition that cannot be corrected by any form of teeth whitening.
Eating: The habitual consumption of red wine, coffee, tea, cola, carrots, oranges and other deeply-colored beverages and foods causes considerable staining over the years. In addition, acidic foods such as citrus fruits and vinegar contribute to enamel erosion. As a result, the surface becomes more transparent and more of the yellow-colored dentin shows through.
Smoking: Nicotine leaves brownish deposits which slowly soak into the tooth structure and cause intrinsic discoloration. It is well known that smokers have very discolored teeth.
Drugs / chemicals: Tetracycline usage during tooth formation produces dark grey or brown ribbon stains which are very difficult to remove. Excessive consumption of fluoride causes fluorosis and associated areas of white mottling.
Grinding: Most frequently caused by stress, teeth grinding (gnashing, bruxing, etc.) can add to micro-cracking in the teeth and can cause the biting edges to darken.
Trauma: Falls and other injuries can produce sizable cracks in the teeth, which collect large amounts of stains and debris.
Teeth Whitening Options
The teeth whitening reviews show that three major teeth whitening options are available today. All three rely on varying concentrations of peroxide and varying application times.
In-Office Whitening
Significant color change in a short period of time is the major benefit of in-office whitening. This protocol involves the carefully controlled use of a relatively high-concentration peroxide gel, applied to the teeth by the
