14 % Americans get
their tooth bleached every single year; it’s a staggering number........!
Have you ever
wondered why teeth lose its whiteness in the first place......?
Let’s try to
understand....
- When our tooth developed, it had specific color. That was because of dentin – layer of the tooth underlying Enamel, the outer layer.
- Our teeth color immediately after development was yellow to brown due to Dentin.
- The overlying enamel is relatively transparent that, later in the life, contributes to the blue, green or pink tint of the tooth.
Why the enamel gets
stained........? ?
- Chromogens – Intense colour pigments get attached to the minute irregularities in the Enamel, when we eat few food items that have more of it – Tea, Coffee, Tobacco, and Red Wine.
- Also, few medications – Antihistaminic, Antipsychotic and Blood pressure lowering drugs, contribute to Tooth Darkening.
- Also, plaque and tartar – Calculus will cause your teeth look stained.
- Lastly, Trauma causes more deposition of dentin and advancing age that does the same, will darken the shade of the tooth.
How to prevent
the darkening of tooth.............? ? Or
How to Whiten Teeth naturally....? ?
- Actually, tooth darkening cannot be prevented......sorry...!
- But yes, it could be delayed. How? Brush your teeth right before going to bed and after you wake up in the morning with a Fluoride containing tooth paste and floss once a day.
What if still it
loses its whiteness............? ?
- Then, visit your Dentist. Take expert opinion whether you are a recommended candidate for tooth whitening or not. And if you are, get an appointment for it.
Teeth whitening kit:-
- Hydrogen peroxide or its analogues Carbamide peroxide, is an active ingredient in most of the tooth whitening agents – Bleaching agents.
- Apart from that depending upon the procedure, dentist might use Laser to speed up the chemical reaction of hydrogen peroxide.
- Rubber dam is used to cover the gums before the procedure.
- Brush for painting the peroxide containing solution on the tooth.
Teeth whitening
procedure: -
- Dentist applies the solution to the teeth that will whiten it in the time duration pre-decided by the manufacturer.
- The peroxide – the oxidizing agent, reacts with the organic matter – causing discoloration, between the inorganic crystals in the Enamel.
- Peroxide will release an unstable oxygen molecule that will break the organic matter in small parts that reflect less light, means more whiteness.
Teeth whitening
methods:-
In office
bleaching-
- Teeth whitening in dentist’s office, which is faster and more effective .
- Dentist first covers all the soft tissues in the mouth – Gums and papilla (tips of gum between the teeth)to prevent the damage to it by bleaching agents.
- Then he applies hydrogen peroxide (3- 16 % concentration) or carbamide peroxide (10-44% concentration) on the teeth.
- After recommended time, the dentist will wash it from the tooth with water spray.
- Laser accelerated bleaching will fasten the procedure as laser will act as reagent and will decrease the reaction time.
Internal bleaching
–
- Whitening of tooth treated with RCT (Root Canal Treatment) .
- This will seal off the bleaching agent within the tooth and will replace it periodically till the desired result will be achieved.
Bleaching at home
–
- Bleaching agent has to be taken in the trays and worn it over the tooth for a recommended time duration.
- The bleaching agents available for home based bleaching has less concentration of peroxide ; hence , it will take more time to achieve the desired result with it.
Which type of
tooth will not respond well to bleaching ............? ?
- When the natural colour of the teeth is grayish, bleaching won’t help.
- In tetracycline – a medication stain, bleaching is of no use.
- Of course, on the artificial tooth – dentures, veneers, crowns, bleaching will be ineffective.
So,
Before you go to
your Dentist, get educated about the procedure you are going to get done...
Wish you shiny
teeth.............!
Got any question
...... comment below........Dentist will reply your comment about your teeth
issues...... !!!!!