Varieties of tooth stains
You must select a teeth whitening Tomball TX procedure that targets the sort of stains you have if you want to effectively whiten your teeth. Choosing a whitening technique that safely tackles both intrinsic and extrinsic staining is likely necessary if you have both (extrinsic staining is described below).
Consult your dentist if you are unsure about the type of discoloration you have. They can provide you advice on the types of stains on your teeth and the best treatment options.
Intrinsic stains
Intrinsic stains are those that exist deep within the enamel of your teeth. When you’re a child, intrinsic staining might occasionally be visible even before your teeth sprout from your gums. These stains can be brought on by the use of antibiotics, exposure to a lot of fluoride, and thinning tooth enamel with age. Research from 2014 claims that intrinsic staining can occasionally even be geneticTrusted Source.
Extrinsic stains
Extrinsic stains are located on your teeth’s surface. These occur as a result of environmental exposure to substances that stain the enamel of your teeth. This kind of discoloration can be brought on by smoking, coffee, and artificial food colouring.
According to the 2014 study mentioned above, extrinsic stains can also be connected to antibiotic use, just like intrinsic stains.
Options of teeth whitening
Options for teeth whitening Tomball TX include professional teeth whitening procedures supervised by your dentist and toothpaste with whitening chemicals.
While some whitening treatments only bleach intrinsic and extrinsic stains to make them appear lighter in colour, others genuinely work to eliminate extrinsic stains from your teeth. Hydrogen peroxide is a common ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) and professional treatment options for whitening teeth. Another common oxidising agent is carbamide peroxide.
In higher amounts, these substances may be hostile and irritating to your body. You should therefore use tooth whitening products exactly as instructed. If you suffer any sensitivity after using whitening products at home or while getting them at your dentist’s office, discuss it with them. Stop using the product and see your dentist if it causes tooth discomfort, gum redness, or bleeding.
Products for whitening
Whitening mouthwash and toothpaste are OTC whitening products.
These materials could include baking soda, a mild abrasive that can be used to scrub away stains. Some toothpaste that whitens also includes charcoal, which has abrasive qualities. Low quantities of carbamide and hydrogen peroxide may also be present in whitening products.
If used excessively or over an extended period of time, several abrasives might harm your teeth’s enamel. Your teeth’s tough exterior is enamel. According to the American Dental Association, the enamel does not self-repair after it has worn away because, unlike other portions of a tooth, it is not formed of live cells (ADA). For advice on using abrasive whitening solutions safely, go to your dentist.
Home whitening kits
Home whitening kits might come in the shape of sticky strips or a paste or gel that you apply to your teeth with a brush.
In some home whitening kits, you apply a whitening solution to your teeth before covering them with a mouthguard. Some at-home kits “radiate” the whitening paste within the mouthguard using a heat lamp, blue light, or UV light. It is uncertain, according to a tiny 2021 studyTrusted Source, whether this genuinely improves the gel’s efficacy.
By keeping the bleaching agent on your teeth, a mouth guard can maximise its absorption and reduce the amount of the teeth whitening Tomball TX chemical that comes into touch with your gums. According to 2019 researchTrusted Source, the ADA has approved gel with 10% carbamide for at-home usage in nighttime mouth guards. The concentration of the active chemicals in whitening kits permitted for home use is lower than what you would discover in a dentist’s office. Because of this, it will take using the kit consistently for a few weeks before you start to see effects. The majority of at-home whitening kits promise results in two to four weeks.
