Discoloration of the teeth is a condition that happens to many people. There are various different reasons as to why this happens, one because of age, the older people get the more the teeth get discolored. Also the use of red wine, coffee and tea, tooth decay, bacteria and fillings can be a cause. They can be whitened again through a process called dental teeth whitening.
The process can be done with the use of whitening products. These are made from two chemicals namely hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide that produce oxygen that bonds with the enamel to form the white coat. The coat will last for three months in some people to three years in others.
Available in shops are over the counter kits that can basically be used at home. They come complete with mouth trays and a whitening gel. They are easy to use by simply squeezing the gel into the mouth tray molded to fit any teeth. The mould is then put over the teeth and left for thirty minutes. The results might not be similar to those of the gel used by dentists since the hydrogen peroxide used here is much weaker.
There is the option of visiting a professional dentist for the procedure. The dentist will decide whether to do it an external or internal bleaching. The more common external whitening involves placing the bleaching element on the tooth. Internal bleaching, which is only done on teeth that previously had root canal operation, is done inside the tooth. The external procedure is just like using the over the counter kit.
There is also the power or laser whitening method. Here the dentist will place a protective rubber over the gums before applying the strong bleaching gel. To speed up the process, a bright light is used. This should be done in about an hours time.
Like most procedures, there are risks involved. These may be different from person to person so it is wise to ask a dentist of any risks that are specific to a person undergoing the process. Side effects involved in this procedure are temporary sensitivity, tender gum, sore throat and patches of white on the gums. These normally will not take long to disappear but it is advisable to contact a dentist should they persist.
Instead of using these bleaching products or those that for one reason or the other can not use them, there are other alternatives. They can use toothpastes with fluoride, cut down on the use of drinks like tea, coffee and red wine, stop smoking and frequent their visits to the dentist to have their teeth scaled and tartar removed.
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