Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a very common cosmetic dental procedure to help give you the brightest smile possible. There are two types of teeth whitening that can be done – in-house and take-home procedures. Both work very well. It all depends on your schedule and what you prefer. Below you will find some quick information on Teeth Whitening.
TWo ways to brighter smiles – Bleaching and Whitening
Bleaching is slightly different than whitening. According to the FDA, “bleaching” is permitted to be used only when teeth are whitened beyond their natural color. Products used to achieve this are typically hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.
Teeth “whitening” refers to restoring a tooth’s surface color by removing dirt and debris. With that said, any product, like toothpaste, is considered a whitener.
Why teeth whitening?
Most of us start off with wonderfully white teeth thanks to the porcelain-like enamel surface. But over the years the enamel simply is worn down, becoming more transparent and permitting the yellow color of dentin to show through.
Teeth whitening removes the stains and debris, leaving the enamel cracks open and exposed. Some of these cracks are quickly re-mineralized by saliva, while others are filled up again with organic debris.
What are your options?
There are basically three major teeth whitening options today. All three of them rely on varying concentrations of peroxide and varying application times.
- In-Office Whitening
- Professionally Dispensed Take-home Whitening Kits
- Over-the-Counter Whitening
