Teeth Whitening - The best way to customize a brighter smile | Dental Treatment Guide


As the market for cosmetic dentistry grows rapidly, it has been realised that the most popular, prevalent wish is for whiter teeth. This is a desire shared between both men and women as they long for a more aesthetically pleasing smile that may give them a more attractive, younger appearance. This has been made much easier as there are now products on the market available for all types of budget from over-the-counter whitening kits to professional dentist whitening or bleaching. Not only this, but these varying treatments can further be tailored to an individual's tooth sensitivity and time constraints.

Despite its massive popularity, only 15% of people have actually attempted to get their smile whiter and brighter using this specialised method. This may be due to them being misinformed about the procedures available or perhaps if they believe that they cannot afford it. A key fact that may cause this 15% to rise significantly is that tooth-whitening procedures genuinely work. Yes it is true that the results are rather variable but the vast majority of people who undergo some sort of tooth whitening procedure do experience lightening of their smile. To maintain this whiter appearance, the procedure must be repeated regularly, which can further brighten the smile.

There are two key options available if you are longing for a whiter smile. These are whitening treatments or bleaching treatments. It is determined by the individual's teeth, which is best but below are some key points that may help in this decision.

Tooth bleaching vs. tooth whitening processes

The process of tooth whitening is broadly defined by any treatment that gives the teeth a whiter, brighter appearance. Whitening products can be segregated into two main groups, which are either bleaching or peroxide-containing treatments or are toothpastes are available Generally speaking, whitening products contain ingredients designed to physically and/or chemically break down and remove stains on the surface of the teeth. Such products can be purchased at your local pharmacy or supermarket. Alternatively, they are obtainable from your dentist if they feel that whitening would benefit you.

Bleaching products are defined primarily by the inclusion of peroxide ingredients. The bleaching agents are applied to the teeth to change the actual colour of the tooth. The peroxides act by getting rid of not only surface stains, but also deep-set stains.

Of these two types of product, the most widely used are whitening treatments. This is probably due to the fact that whitening is more based around lightening the teeth to their whitest natural colour. Bleaching, on the other hand, is a method used to get teeth to a level of whiteness that are beyond the natural means, which sounds less healthy and appealing to some.

Why may whitening be the best decision for you?

The key-determining factor in how white your teeth can get through whitening treatments is your enamel. This enamel makes up the surface of the teeth and before it is submitted to food, drink and other factors such as smoking, it is naturally a bright, white colour.

The purpose of tooth enamel to is to defend your teeth from the impacts of eating different foods, undergoing damage and change in acidity due to certain things like sugar. However, as we get older, the enamel is eroded away so it looses its opaque, white colour and becomes yellower as the dentin underneath, which contains the tooth's nerves and blood vessels, shows through.

As our teeth suffer the trauma of our everyday lives, the enamel becomes inundated with thousands of tiny fissures. These fissures trap debris from food and other environmental factors as well as being vulnerable to stain build-ups. Clearly, this will subsequently cause the teeth to become less bright and white in appearance.

To overcome these problems, many people resort to tooth whitening products as these tackle such surface stains and debris collections. The whitening treatments remove the components that fill up the fissures, which means that they become empty and exposed to the mouth environment. These small cracks can be fixed by saliva or alternatively, they may collect further debris, which can be removed with subsequent whitening treatments.

Further Information about Teeth Whitening