Whitening with the Air-Flow system ("Air-Flo")
The Air-Flow system (“Air-Flo”) is usually used after ultrasonic cleaning and is included in the complex of professional oral hygiene. The essence of Air-Flow is that an air stream mixed with particles of water and a special cleaning powder (soda-based) is supplied through a special nozzle. This removes the dark bacterial film from the enamel and polishes the enamel. As a result, teeth look 1-2 shades lighter (the original natural shade), acquire shine1 and also become more protected, because It is quite difficult for bacteria to attach to a polished surface.
Ways to Improve the Appearance of Your Smile
There are many ways to improve your smile, make beautiful, straight teeth, and improve their condition.
Whitening
One of the most popular ways to make teeth whiter today is whitening. This happens by removing unwanted plaque, after which the enamel is naturally lightened by one or two shades.
Especially if your teeth are naturally beautifully shaped, healthy and strong, but over time they have slightly lost the desired shade, for example, due to frequent coffee consumption, whitening is the ideal option for you to get whiter teeth.
Whitening is not a very complicated procedure; it can be done either at the dentist or at home, but for proper and competent consultation it is always better to first consult a specialist.
Veneers
There is only one answer to the question why stars have such white teeth and how they whiten them: veneers. Getting veneers is a more serious and expensive procedure than regular whitening. Veneers are special coverings that cover the outer surface of teeth for a more beautiful appearance. After installing veneers, the smile visually looks more aesthetically pleasing.
Veneers help correct many dental imperfections, such as:
- curvature;
- unevenness on the surface;
- plaque;
- bad enamel;
- interdental gaps.
Braces
Another way to correct imperfections is braces. Wearing braces ultimately gives very good results, although they have to be worn for quite a long period of time.
Anyone can get braces, regardless of age: both children and adults. There are two options for installing braces – external and internal. In the first case, the device is installed on the inner surface of the teeth, in the second case - on the outer side of the dentition.
First of all, when installing braces, the patient undergoes a mandatory examination by an orthodontist. If there is caries, it is subject to mandatory treatment before installation. Also, great attention is paid to the presence of stone, since this can interfere with the correct installation of the bracket.
After treatment is completed, you can proceed to installing braces. This happens in this way: special clasps are placed on each of the teeth separately, which are then connected together by one orthodontic arch. On average, this procedure takes 1 – 1.5 hours.
Plates
In addition to braces, you can also install special plates; they can be removable or non-removable. The plate is made individually for each patient based on a cast of his jaw.
The plates are quite easy to use; sometimes, if particularly necessary, they can even be removed, for example, while brushing your teeth or eating. Plates are less noticeable than braces.
But there are also significant disadvantages of such a device: plates do not help in all difficult cases, especially in adults, since they cannot, like braces, shift the dentition over time, restoring the correct shape.
In children, it is sometimes difficult to track the dynamics of treatment, since the ability to remove the plate allows them to do this more often than the doctor recommends. In some cases, if the doctor’s recommendations are not followed, wearing such a plate may not give any positive results.
Mouthguards
The next alternative option for teeth straightening is mouth guards. They are not as effective as braces, but they can correct minor defects in the dentition. Mouthguards do not damage the gums; they are also made individually for each patient and, importantly, are absolutely invisible to others.
The mouthguards are quite easy to wash, and a person gets used to the device within a few days. The disadvantages of using this method include only the high cost, as well as the fact that mouthguards cannot cope with serious cases of imperfect teeth. In more difficult situations, the patient will need braces.
Restoration
Another way to solve the issue of oral appearance.
You can resort to a restoration procedure if chips or large stains appear on the surface of the teeth, the enamel is destroyed due to the appearance of caries, or there may be large distances between the teeth.
With the help of restoration, you can restore the aesthetic appearance of your teeth and make your smile more attractive.
This happens by placing a polymer mass into the dental cavity until it takes the desired shape and is restored to a smooth state. If there is severe tooth decay, preliminary installation of a pin will be required.
Prosthetics
Dentures are usually used in cases where the patient is missing one or more teeth. Dentures can be removable or non-removable. It is best to discuss the method of prosthetics with your doctor, and then make a decision.
Removable dentures can be removed at will and put on again when needed. Fixed dentures are attached directly to the root or to an implant - an artificial root.
Dental decorations
One of the fashionable trends in the field of dentistry can be considered dental jewelry. Probably everyone, at least once in their life, has noticed rhinestones and other decorations on another person’s enamel that decorate a smile and attract attention.
But, if you suddenly want to install a rhinestone for beauty, this is not always possible: there are several contraindications for such a procedure. For example, if you have caries or any enamel damage, the procedure is contraindicated for you.
You may be allergic to the materials used for jewelry, so you also need to be careful. If you have bite pathology or diseases of the oral cavity, the orthodontist may also refuse you such a procedure. After eliminating all contraindications, you can safely choose the jewelry you like.
Whitening using enamel remineralization
Remineralization saturates tooth enamel with “building” elements – calcium, phosphorus, fluorine. As a result, it becomes stronger and lighter (but not by much, only 1-2 tones). In dentistry, a special two-phase system is used - deep fluoridation, suitable for adults and children with mixed dentition. At home, you can use pharmaceutical remineralizing gels (for example, ROCS), which are available for adults and for children from 2-3 years of age.
On a note! All of the above measures will not make the smile snow-white, like that of a screen star, but, nevertheless, they will lighten it a little - and this will still be noticeable from the outside. But to make your teeth truly white, i.e. To whiten them significantly (by 8-15 tones), you need to turn to professional bleaching.
Whitening Zoom
Whitening with the Zoom system (USA) allows you to effectively lighten enamel in one visit to the dentist. A special acid-free gel is applied to the surface of the teeth. It is exposed to an ultraviolet lamp, resulting in a reaction that releases oxygen molecules that can act on the deep layers of dentin and eliminate even persistent pigmentation. The gel contains amorphous calcium phosphate, which fills enamel micropores and protects teeth. The result of the procedure lasts up to 5 years.
Photobleaching – ZOOM technique and others
Why do stars have snow-white teeth? The answer is simple - to improve their appearance, they turn to specialists. For example, one of the most popular methods is photo-whitening ZOOM 3 and ZOOM 4. Its essence is that a gel containing bleaching substances - hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide - is applied to the tooth enamel. Next, the doctor turns on a special lamp with ultraviolet light, under the rays of which a chemical reaction begins in the gel. Its components penetrate the enamel and lighten it by 10-15 tones, making it truly snow-white.
In addition to the ZOOM method, Amazing White and Beyond are widely used. But they have a slightly different concentration of active substances, there is no ultraviolet light in the lamp, and the brightening effect is less pronounced than that of Zoom.
How to achieve a Hollywood smile at home?
If it is not possible or you are afraid of teeth whitening using chemical means in dentistry, it is recommended to use home whitening methods.
Here are the following methods:
- Peroxide – use hydrogen peroxide 3%. Apply a small amount onto cotton wool and wipe your teeth thoroughly. To see results within a week, you should resort to using the method twice a day.
- Baking soda – apply a small amount to your toothbrush and brush your teeth as usual. You are allowed to use the presented method no more than 2 times a week.
- Activated Charcoal – Activated carbon tablets are crushed into powder and rubbed on the teeth. It is allowed to carry out the procedure 3 times a week.
- Strawberries - in the summer you can whiten your teeth while eating strawberries, but you should not get carried away with this, as you can damage the enamel and provoke subsequent staining. To whiten, just rub strawberry pulp on all your teeth. This can be done every other day during the season, but after treatment, do not eat foods with pigment for the next 5-6 hours.
- The inner side of the citrus peel is similar to a strawberry. You should rub your teeth with small pieces of crusts, and then sit with your mouth open for 5 minutes.
- Gentle whitening with green tea - brew strong green tea, use the leaf product for this, not in bags. Moisten a toothbrush in the cooled tea leaves and brush your teeth. The method can be used daily, but only at night, so as not to consume any products later.
Please note: The most effective way to whiten teeth at home is with baking soda and citrus peels. They are the most dangerous for enamel. It is better to use green tea to only erase plaque and remove stone without damaging the enamel.
How to whiten your smile with a laser
The principle of the technique is somewhat similar to photobleaching - a gel is also applied to the enamel, but it will be activated by a laser (diode or neodymium). The length of the laser beam is specially designed so as not to harm the teeth - not to overheat them and prevent injury. Dentists even note the fact that the laser not only perfectly whitens a smile by 10-15 tones, but also makes the enamel stronger, i.e. protects against caries.
“I finally decided to have laser whitening and it wasn’t a bad choice at all. Three years ago I did Zoom, but after it my teeth ached terribly, to the point of tears. The doctor said that this is a reaction of the body and this happens. But I didn’t need that anymore)) And after the laser, nothing bothered me at all, and my smile just became great.”
Alena, review from the women's forum woman.ru
The secret of a dazzling smile
Many of us, watching toothpaste advertisements, caught ourselves thinking: why do our teeth become so far from snow-white over time? After all, we clean!
There are several reasons for teeth discoloration. The most common is the use of products with dyes (coffee, tea, tobacco, wine, etc.).
If we look at the structure of a tooth under a microscope, we will see that its surface is not perfectly smooth, but porous. When we drink something that dyes, the dye gets into the pores of our teeth.
Even if you brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss and rinse, you will not completely remove these substances. Hard-to-reach places cause the most problems.
Over time, the amount of dyes in the pores reaches such a level that the teeth visually change their color and acquire undesirable shades.
Also, factors that spoil the color of enamel include various dental damage, heredity, the use of antibiotics, the consequences of dental treatment, and age-related changes.
From the point of view of the human eye’s perception of light, when exposed to the reasons described above, the reflective properties of the enamel deteriorate - the tooth becomes dull, and the coveted whiteness is lost.
Accordingly, to achieve a snow-white effect, you only need to increase the area of the reflective surface. Sometimes this can only be achieved by replacing old, darkened fillings.
If replacing fillings is not enough, then you need to resort to a teeth whitening procedure using bleaching substances. Whitening will provide an increase in the reflective surface of the teeth enamel, which in turn will make your smile dazzling!
Chemical enamel whitening
The chemical whitening method is more gentle than ZOOM, but also involves the application of a special active gel with hydrogen peroxide. Lamp activation is not used here, because the active components begin to “work” immediately after application. The most popular technique is called Opalescence Boost PF - here the active gel contains not only whitening, but also enamel remineralizing components (fluorides and trace elements).
Interesting fact! Before photo, laser or chemical whitening, dentists recommend taking a course of professional hygiene (ultrasound treatment and Air-Flow) in order to achieve maximum whitening effect. It is also necessary to strengthen the enamel with a course of remineralization, because chemical components can weaken it and increase tooth sensitivity.
Ultrasonic whitening
The ultrasonic whitening method is used for increased tooth sensitivity.
Soft and hard deposits are removed. In this case, the enamel is not damaged. For whitening, a special device is used - a scaler. Under its influence, the drug applied to the enamel releases active oxygen and destroys plaque. A gentle dose of reagents is used. Tartar is removed even from the subgingival area. The patient does not experience pain or discomfort, the session takes 60 minutes. Finally, the teeth are polished with a special paste and fluoridated. You need to repeat the procedure several times. Contraindications:
- exacerbation of systemic chronic diseases;
- the presence of bridges and implants;
- age up to 16 years;
- tuberculosis, hepatitis, AIDS;
- first 3 months of pregnancy.
Microprosthetics with veneers and lumineers
Often people who want to get really white teeth, like Hollywood stars, do not know what this whitening method is called. In fact, beautiful teeth among stars are not always the result of whitening procedures. Celebrities often resort to special coverings for their front teeth - veneers. Also very popular is a unique type of veneers called “Lumineers,” which are created in only one laboratory in the United States. Veneers not only give a whiter smile, but also “hide” minor defects (chips, cracks) and correct minor bite pathologies.
Veneers are permanent microprostheses, the thinnest plates that can be created from porcelain, ceramics, glass ceramics, and zirconium dioxide. Depending on the properties of the material, you can get truly beautiful and durable teeth that will delight their owner for 10-20 years or more. Popular brands of veneers are E.max, Empress, Prettau.
Interesting to know! Manufacturers make materials not only pure white - after all, “faience” whiteness looks unnatural. Veneers are painted in light but natural shades, which will look more advantageous than snow-white ones. By the way, according to experts, the optimal color of teeth should be only 3-4 shades lighter than the color of human skin.
What teeth are considered beautiful?
How to understand which teeth are beautiful and which are not? Let's look at several criteria for a “Hollywood smile”.
Color
It is generally accepted that enamel that has a snow-white tint is considered beautiful. Many people strive to bring the color of their teeth as close to ideal as possible. But here you also need to be careful, since overly bright white teeth will no longer look entirely natural. So the enamel should actually have a slight tint.
Form
The shape of the teeth should look beautiful in appearance and be symmetrical to certain lines on a person’s face. The smile line along the lower row of teeth becomes a kind of smooth continuation when moving to the lips, and the teeth resemble perspective, from the nearest teeth to the farthest ones in the row. The cutting edge should be slightly transparent, this gives a natural look.
Healthy gums
Don't forget about your gums. After all, no matter how beautiful your smile is, if your gums are inflamed, it will not look aesthetically pleasing. Healthy gums are usually light pink in color, and the gums are symmetrically located on top of the teeth.
Prosthetics with crowns and bridges
In cases where teeth are severely damaged, have large fillings, or have had their canals treated many times, the optimal solution is to install crowns made from modern materials (ceramics, ceramic composite, zirconium dioxide). You can also install a whole bridge of several crowns if a large number of teeth are destroyed or some of them are missing.
However, dentists now recommend installing implants rather than bridges. Because bridges quickly fail under chewing load, but implants last forever - and provide the highest comfort and aesthetics of a smile.
Where to get the smile of your dreams?
How and where do you get snow-white teeth like stars? To carry out professional whitening, you need to contact a clinic that has the appropriate equipment and experienced specialists. Teeth are whitened by a dental hygienist, but this procedure can also be performed by a dental therapist - contacting any of these doctors will allow you to get teeth like a star.
The installation of veneers, lumineers and crowns is carried out by an orthopedic dentist, and implantation is carried out by an implantologist. If your bite needs correction with braces, you should first visit an orthodontist.
Types of whitening
You can whiten your teeth both at home and in the clinic. The choice depends on the desired results, the amount of time available and, of course, funds.
Home whitening (do it yourself)
The most labor-intensive and risky is home whitening, when choosing which you will have to select the whitening agent yourself, taking into account the characteristics of the teeth (the condition of the enamel, the presence of frontal fillings that do not whiten).
The bleaching process itself takes from two to three weeks, and the result does not last long, since for independent uncontrolled bleaching, products with a small degree of bleaching agent (10-15%) are offered - accordingly, the result of such a procedure will be minimal.
The main advantage of this method is the price - a home procedure will cost you several times less than a clinical procedure. So, if you have free time to learn the specifics of the whitening process and a fairly limited budget, then you can try it.
Bleaching under the supervision of a doctor (external assistance)
A more serious option can also be considered bleaching at home, but under the supervision of a doctor. The dentist determines the condition of your enamel, selects a whitening agent (usually with an oxidation degree of 30 - 35%) and makes an individual tray, which must fit tightly to your teeth during whitening.
You can carry out this procedure at any time convenient for you (during sleep, in the evening after work, during your favorite TV series). The duration of this process is from a week to two. During this time, you visit a dentist who monitors changes, controls and adjusts the whitening process.
At the first stage, teeth become very sensitive to cold, hot, sour, and may also differ slightly in color and become stained. But there is no need to panic - this is a reaction of the teeth to chemical exposure, which will soon pass.
For this service you will have to pay from 3,000 rubles, but here you certainly won’t go wrong when choosing a whitening product, and you will also save time that you would have to spend on studying dental Talmuds if you decided on the first option.
Whitening in the clinic (we trust the professionals)
The most expensive (minimum cost is 10,000 rubles), but fastest and most comfortable, is in-clinic whitening. The dentist will look at the condition of your teeth, listen to your wishes and... in an hour you will already see the result!
If your smile is not very wide, then there is no need to whiten all your teeth - you can give the desired color to only those that are visible when you smile. The cost of the procedure for one tooth is from 500 rubles, which will help you invest on a limited budget.
Everything seems to be fine, but... In addition to the high cost, there is one rather unpleasant point: some experts consider this process unsafe - when whitening in a clinic, the enamel is destroyed and tooth sensitivity increases.
Which star gave himself a snow-white smile?
It is quite difficult to get an answer to this question from the celebrities themselves. But if you carefully examine the smiles of the stars, it becomes clear that almost every famous person undergoes whitening on a regular basis. And if he doesn’t, then he gets veneers or lumineers to make his appearance even more attractive and not lose popularity. Only a few can boast of ideal white and naturally straight teeth.
If we turn to world stars with a “Hollywood” smile, which they acquired some time after they became very popular, then we can focus on the following personalities - Marilyn Monroe, Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Madonna, George Clooney, David Beckham , Emma Watson and many others.
Hollywood stars with veneers
Hollywood men and women with veneers appear on the covers of famous magazines and newspapers every day. Few people abroad will admire a snow-white smile. However, after looking at the before and after photos, you may be surprised at the noticeable transformation.
- Marilyn Monroe is a star with a perfect smile line. She never wore veneers, since these cosmetic overlays were invented much later. The first mention of them dates back to 1955, and Marilyn’s life ended just 7 years after that. However, there are suggestions that Monroe wore temporary porcelain extensions that were only in place for a few hours for filming.
- George Clooney, a famous actor and TV star, until recently had a not very attractive smile. Clooney's right incisor was noticeably lower than the rest of his teeth. Installing veneers helped the actor get rid of this problem.
- Nicole Kidman - the star has never complained about the position of her jaw. However, her teeth were quite small and slightly recessed. Ceramic plates quickly corrected this problem and allowed the star to acquire a Hollywood smile.
- Tom Cruise - in his youth the star had more than just an overbite. His incisors were located chaotically and clearly needed dental help. The actor put on aesthetic extensions as soon as he became famous.
- Scarlett Johansson - to mask visual defects, the star put ceramics on her upper jaw. The lower one remained untouched, so it still has a deformed arrangement and crowding.
- Lindsay Lohan - yellowed enamel and worn out bottom edge - that's what the star hid under cosmetic plates. Now her smile looks attractive and is distinguished by its snow-whiteness.
