TEETH WHITENING II

In Teeth Whitening I we discussed the anatomy of teeth, what causes staining and why teeth darken as we age.  In this blog we are going to discuss how whitening works, what the options are to whiten your teeth, and what really works best.  Whitening of teeth is accomplished using carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide solutions.  These solutions work by oxidizing (bubbling and dehydrating) the stains and biological byproducts that collect on and in the tubules of your teeth.  Three major teeth whitening options are available today.  All three rely on various concentrations of peroxide and varying application times.  The first two options are monitored and dispensed by a dentist.

Option one is the professionally dispensed take-home kit with a custom tray that is fabricated from an impression of your mouth.  This provides great results because the peroxide gel stays inside the tray and continuously "bathes" and whitens the teeth without swallowing any of the peroxide solutions (not a good idea in my opinion).  The trays are worn for 30-40 minutes with hydrogen peroxide or all night using carbamide peroxide.  As I mentioned, how white your teeth get is determined by the strength of the whitening gel and the contact time of the gel on the tooth surface.  The trays are worn until the desired whiteness is achieved.  Studies have shown the average time is approximately 28 days.  After this time, it may only take one or two maintenance sessions throughout the year to pop the teeth back to their full whiteness.

The second method (also done in a dental office) is laser or light-activated whitening.  This involves placing higher concentrations of peroxide gel on the teeth under the direct supervision of a dentist.  Care is taken to isolate your teeth so no gel is swallowed or touches gum tissues.  This method is excellent for quick last minute whitening for occasions such as upcoming weddings, class reunions or special celebrations.  This method should be followed up with custom trays, described in method one, to keep the desired whiteness, as this method of whitening does fade away.

The final method involves utilizing store-bought whitening kits and strips.  This method features strips that are placed over your teeth.  Molded with your fingers, they get slimy and slide around on your teeth.  The second problem is that you are swallowing hydrogen peroxide, as there is no custom tray to contain the gel solution.  Some kits come with a one size fits all tray that you mold over your teeth like an athletic mouth guard, and you place the whitening gel inside.  Once again, without a well-fitting tray, the gel leaks out, (which you swallow), preventing the teeth from being bathed in the solution,

Furthermore, the allowed strength of whitening solutions for store-bought kits can be less than half that of dentist prescribed kits.  Once again, the strength of the whitening gel and its contact with teeth are the main variables that predict whitening outcomes.