9 modern types of teeth whitening: benefits and harms

Types of teeth whitening in dentistry

Professional teeth whitening involves performing procedures in a dental office and under the direct supervision of a specialist. In this case, mechanical or chemical effects may be exerted on the tooth enamel. The effectiveness of the latter can be enhanced by the penetrating ability of ultrasound, laser or light, which act as an activator and conductor for the reagent that penetrates deep into the enamel.

Today there are a number of popular whitening methods, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. Their descriptions will help you give preference to one or another procedure.

Contraindications and recommendations

The enamel is subject to serious chemical exposure, so only those who do not have dental problems are allowed to undergo the procedure. Contraindications to bleaching are inflammation in soft tissues and foci of caries - all these pathological phenomena must first be eliminated. Excessive plaque and deposits can also become an obstacle to the procedure, so you should undergo a professional procedure about 2 weeks in advance. hygiene to prepare your smile for a radical transformation. Among other contraindications, experts highlight age under 16 years, pregnancy and breastfeeding, the presence of extensive fillings, crowns and bridges that fall into the smile zone, as well as pronounced dental anomalies that impede the quality of the procedure.

The procedure is not recommended for pregnant women

Only whitening carried out in the dentist’s office, that is, under his close supervision and control, is considered safe. When using home methods, less concentrated formulations are used, but they should be handled with extreme caution so as not to cause problems with the enamel or pulp injury. Before this, you must undergo an examination by a dentist and find out the current condition of the dental tissues.

So, the safest and most effective way is to use a laser as an activator of the active components of the lightening gel. In second place is photo bleaching, followed by chemical and home bleaching. Ultrasonic cleaning and Air Flow sandblasting are not whitening methods, but are much safer and healthier dental care procedures. As for the preservation of the achieved effect, much depends on the patient. It is better to give up coffee and strong tea, quit smoking, avoid coloring products and pay close attention to hygiene. Only such a comprehensive and responsible approach to oral care will allow you to enjoy a dazzling smile for as long as possible.

Photobleaching

One of the “youngest” whitening methods. During its use, a special whitening gel is applied to the visible surface of the teeth, with a minimum concentration of hydrogen peroxide, which, under the direct influence of light emitted by a halogen lamp, is activated and penetrates deep into the enamel, while breaking down its pigment plaque. This procedure is often called ZOOM whitening, since the ZOOM-4 series device can be used for it. You can sign up for a whitening procedure using the ZOOM-4 device on our website

Advantages

• Quick visible effect.
• Suitable for patients with sensitive tooth enamel.
• If you follow the dentist's recommendations, the effect lasts up to 2 years.

Flaws

• The duration of the procedure is 1.5 – 2 hours in the dentist’s chair.
• Unpleasant taste in the mouth after the procedure.
• There may be an effect of “unnatural whiteness” of teeth, with a blue tint.

The best products for teeth whitening by 7-10 shades

My Brilliant Smile ISMILE

Rating: 4.9

This product for a whiter smile attracts with its stylish design, high efficiency and ease of use! The complex in a feminine design is represented by 3 pencils with a brightening gel, a portable LED retractor that connects to a smartphone, and a shade scale. The active ingredient in the whitening gel is carbamide peroxide, which gently lightens the shade of teeth by 8 shades without increasing their sensitivity or irritating the gums. LED radiation from the retractor greatly increases the effectiveness of the composition, securing the achieved whiteness of the smile for a long time, and also providing an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and strengthening effect that is beneficial for the oral cavity!

Before the procedure, perform the usual hygienic brushing of your teeth, and then spread the brightening gel over their outer surface, fix the turned on LED emitter in your mouth, leaving it to act for 20 minutes. By repeating whitening sessions daily for 15 days, you will lighten your teeth by 8 shades, remove existing soft plaque, as well as age spots from coffee, tea and tobacco. Please note that the My Brilliant Smile ISMILE system is not suitable for brightening implants, fillings, veneers or dentures. Customer reviews of this product are very positive! According to them, it really restores the whiteness of the smile for a long time, is economical, comfortable to use and pleases with an affordable price!

Advantages

1. Stylish design;
2. Urea peroxide in the formula;
3. Lightens teeth by 8 shades;
4. Removes soft plaque and dark spots;
5. Safe for enamel;
6. Optimal price (about 4000 rubles).

Flaws

1. Not suitable for lightening fillings, veneers, implants.

My White Studio with LED lamp

Rating: 4.8

Don't want to spend a fortune on whitening at the dentist? By purchasing the My White Studio home whitening complex, you will become the owner of a Hollywood smile without harming your wallet! The brightening activity of this system is achieved due to the high concentration of carbamide peroxide in its composition and LED radiation. This combined effect provides safe but effective lightening of the smile line by up to 10 tones, as well as removing dark stains from coffee, tea and tobacco without increasing the sensitivity of the enamel!

The set includes an LED tray, 3 syringes with brightening and 1 with remineralizing gel, 10 napkins in individual sachets, a shade scale, and an adapter device for a smartphone. Before performing home whitening with My White Studio, thoroughly clean your mouth, apply the gel to the outside of your teeth, connect the tray to your phone, insert it into your mouth and leave it on for 15 minutes. After the time has passed, rinse your mouth with water and apply remineralizing gel to your teeth to strengthen the enamel and consolidate the brightening effect. The duration of the course is 10 sessions, after which you will be able to enjoy a dazzling white smile for 6 months or more.

Reviews about this product from My White Studio are mixed! Thus, most buyers claim that it really provides a strong whitening effect without causing thinning of the enamel. Dissatisfied consumers say that this product did not live up to their expectations. Which camp will you join?

Advantages

1. Whitens teeth by 10 shades;
2. Ease of use;
3. It is analogous to professional whitening;
4. Affordable price (about 4000 rubles);
5. Availability of remineralizing gel included;
6. Economical consumption of gel.

Flaws

1. Does not work in all cases.

Yotuel 7 Hours

Rating: 4.7

The Spanish Yotuel 7 Hours system is universally suitable for amateur enamel lightening or maintaining the results of whitening at the dentist! The kit includes 2 tubes of whitening gel, 2 tray blanks, a color indicator scale and remineralizing toothpaste. This will be enough to carry out 7 whitening procedures, lasting 1 hour each, the passage of which will lighten the enamel by 8 tones!

The visible whitening effect resulting from the use of this product is achieved due to the presence of 10% carbamide peroxide in its composition. This substance is much more effective and safer in comparison with outdated hydrogen peroxide. Another advantage of the complex is the presence of a blank for the trays, and not its standard shape. This allows you to quickly create an impression that matches the individual characteristics of your dentition. The home teeth whitening procedure using this kit includes the following steps:

1. Cleaning the oral cavity with a brush and paste.
2. Softening the mouthguard blank in hot water. After that, apply it to your teeth and, using pressing movements of your fingers, form a kind of cast of your dentition.
3. Cool the tray and apply the whitening gel to it.
4. Fix the mouthguard, leaving it to act for 1 hour.
5. At the end of the procedure, rinse your mouth with water.

Repeat whitening sessions daily for 1 week, using the remineralizing paste from the kit during this period to clean your mouth. This approach will provide visible lightening of teeth by 8 tones without the risk of increasing their sensitivity! Please note that Yotuel 7 Hours is not suitable for whitening implants, veneers or restorative procedures. People who smoke should also stop using it, because this bad habit will not only neutralize the whitening effect, but will also contribute to an even greater darkening of the enamel!

Advantages

1. Lightens teeth by 4-8 tones;
2. The package includes a blank for the tray;
3. Availability of remineralizing paste included;
4. Does not thin the enamel;
5. Reasonable cost (about 3300 rubles);
6. Brief whitening course.

Flaws

1. Duration of each whitening procedure;
2. Not suitable for whitening implants, veneers, restored teeth.

Air Flow

This is a mechanical cleaning of enamel that effectively removes plaque and hard deposits (tartar) from the surface of teeth. To carry it out, Air flow sandblasting equipment is used, which supplies the enamel surface with a high-pressure stream consisting of water, an abrasive substance and air. Common soda crystals are used as an abrasive, destroying dental plaque and polishing enamel. Learn more about Air Flow teeth brushing.

Advantages

• During the procedure, tartar is removed, a common cause of caries.
• Ability to clean hard-to-reach places.

Flaws

• Lightening by only 2 - 3 tones.
• During the procedure, patients with sensitive enamel experience pain.

How to keep your teeth white longer

Depending on the technique used, the effect of professional whitening can last for more than one year. However, some patients return to the clinic after a few months for a repeat procedure. To ensure that your smile remains dazzling for a long time, doctors recommend adhering to the following rules:

• do not eat for 3 hours after teeth whitening, you can only drink clean water, then you must adhere to a special diet;
• Do not use a brush with hard bristles, as this will only increase sensitivity;
• purchase a paste without abrasive particles;
• rinse your mouth, use dental floss, and irrigator after each meal;
• Mouth rinses should not contain chlorhexidine (it stains teeth);
• follow a schedule of visits to the dentist for preventive examinations (at least once every six months);
• complete smoking cessation for 2-3 days, preferably for several weeks.

Special diet

To maintain the effect for a long time immediately after the procedure, you must adhere to a special diet. It is important to minimize the consumption of foods with bright colors. It is advisable to eat:

• porridge;
• dairy (but not fermented milk) products;
• fish and seafood;
• chicken, rabbit;
• egg white;
• white fruits and vegetables (such as bananas).

Along with eliminating food containing dyes from the diet, it is recommended to avoid coloring spices. This is turmeric, paprika. Dentists also do not advise eating smoked meats, citrus fruits, any berries, drinking coffee, black tea and alcoholic beverages.

Chemical bleaching

The name of the method speaks for itself and involves applying a special chemical based on hydrogen peroxide to the visible surface of the teeth. Penetrating deep into the enamel, it destroys pigment molecules, and teeth become 4 to 10 shades lighter.

Advantages

• Quickly achieve the desired effect.
• A long-term result, which, if the recommendations are followed, can last for 1.5 years.

Flaws

• Tooth enamel becomes more sensitive.
• If the gums are poorly insulated during the procedure, they can get burned.

Contraindications

Office, home or self-lighting is strictly prohibited in the following cases:

● the patient has deep caries - in this case, the active substance quickly penetrates into the dentin, which causes burns;

● increased sensitivity – the procedure will aggravate the problem;

● dental plaque, tartar - in this case, you will first need to do hygienic cleaning to remove soft plaque, otherwise the effect will not be noticeable;

● taking medications that affect sensitivity to ultraviolet light - for example, ibuprofen;

● patient's age is less than 18 years;

● pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Main contraindications

Ultrasonic whitening

The use of ultrasound in combination with special pastes and gels based on oxidizing agents, which are pre-applied to the visible surface of the teeth, gives a fairly good result and will lighten the enamel by 2 - 3 tones.

Advantages

• The method is suitable for patients with sensitive tooth enamel.
• No pain.

Flaws

• To achieve maximum effect, several procedures will be required.

Whitening with a discount of 5000 rubles!

Moscow

Comparison chart of the best teeth whiteners

Endobleaching

Endodontic lightening of tooth enamel (or as it is often called intracanal whitening) is a labor-intensive procedure that allows you to lighten pulpless teeth and teeth with cracks on the enamel surface. The problem is that, being damaged, they darken from the inside over time and a superficial effect on the enamel in this case does not have a positive effect. Therefore, to lighten them, a special whitening gel is introduced into the tooth cavity, followed by a filling.

Advantages

• The method allows you to lighten damaged teeth and enamel.
• Painless procedure.
• It is possible to lighten the enamel by 8 – 10 tones.
• You can lighten only one or two affected teeth.

Flaws

• Tooth tissues become more fragile.
• To achieve maximum effect, 2–4 procedures will be required.

What is whitening

Today, there is no consensus among dentists whether teeth whitening is harmful or beneficial. Some experts claim that it does not cause any harm to the human body, whitening methods are effective, and a beautiful smile only gives confidence and improves mood. Other dentists are skeptical about the whitening process.

In modern dentistry, there are both clinical methods of teeth whitening and “at-home” techniques. In general, whitening is understood as the process of lightening tooth enamel by a certain number of tones - some people prefer to simply remove yellowness, while others want to achieve an unnatural white shade.

Laser whitening

One of the most popular methods of enamel lightening. During his procedures, a whitening gel is applied to the surface of the teeth and exposed to a laser, which activates the formula.

Advantages

• Quick visible effect.
• Lightening of enamel by 6 – 10 tones.
• Bactericidal properties of the procedure.
• If you follow the dentist’s recommendations, the effect lasts for 1.5 – 2 years.

Flaws

• During the first day after the procedure, the sensitivity of tooth enamel increases.

Absolutely all professional teeth whitening procedures have contraindications. Therefore, before carrying out them, you need to consult with your attending physician and dentist.

Whitening systems

Today doctors can offer several whitening options:

1. Air Flow – processes tooth enamel using the principle of sandblasting. Bleaching is carried out using soda and water. The jet of the composition is supplied under high pressure, thereby effectively cleaning and whitening tooth enamel. After the first half-hour procedure, your teeth will become whiter. However, this method is not suitable for those whose teeth are hypersensitive.
2. With mouthguards - available both with and without hydrogen peroxide. This is a chemical effect on the teeth, which has a tangible and visible effect, and the harm from such an effect is much less than from soda.
3. Zoom is the most popular type, which is actively offered in many dental clinics today. A special gel is applied to the tooth enamel, which is activated (fixed) by a lamp.
4. Photobleaching – the principle of this system is similar to the Zoom system. Here, too, a gel is applied to the tooth enamel, but it is fixed with another lamp – an ultraviolet one.
5. Laser system - its principle is similar to the previous two, but here the gel is activated more efficiently due to a denser beam of light. In addition, if in other systems the tooth surface heats up during the whitening process, this is not the case here. This allows you to avoid damaging your nerves and keep your teeth healthy.

Whitening Pencil

The active ingredient in whitening pencils is still hydrogen peroxide. To lighten the enamel, a light gel is applied to the visible surface of the teeth using a special pencil applicator and left for the time specified in the instructions, after which the mouth must be rinsed thoroughly.

Whitening strips

The principle of operation of the strips is very similar to the mechanism of a pencil. These are special soluble or insoluble strips that are fixed on the visible surface of the teeth in the smile area and left for the recommended time, during which the active substance based on hydrogen peroxide penetrates the top layer of tooth enamel and brightens it.

How to lighten enamel

To understand whether teeth whitening is harmful, let’s figure out how the procedure works. Lightening is achieved due to the fact that, under the influence of a catalyst, the gel reacts with the top layer of enamel. The process is complex and any violation of the technique leads to complications.

It is carried out in four stages:

1. The dentist distributes a gel that contains either hydrogen peroxide or urea. The active substance accounts for 30%.

2. The gel is activated in one of two ways: light or laser.

3. Under the action of the catalyst, atomic oxygen is released, which passes through the top layer into dentin.

4. Under the influence of oxygen, the pigment breaks down and the enamel becomes lighter.

The chemical reaction is essentially similar to hair lightening.

Is this type of teeth whitening harmful? Yes and no. Let's consider both positions. No, it's not harmful because:

● only organic substances that are harmless to humans are used;

● the structure of the dental tissue is not destroyed.

But there are some nuances:

● if remineralization is not carried out after the session, the enamel will lose too many trace elements and moisture, which can lead to complications;

● it is important that the dentist is a professional - the process requires careful adherence to technique, proportions of substances, and exposure time. Therefore, under no circumstances should you contact a clinic that does not inspire confidence.

Zoom system LED lamp

Is Zoom teeth whitening harmful?

The Zoom system is a lightening process during which the gel is activated using an LED lamp. That's why it is also called photobleaching. This is one of the most accessible methods. At the SoloDent dental clinic, whitening using the Zoom system will cost only 11,500 rubles.

Whether Zoom 4 teeth whitening is harmful will depend on the clinic the patient goes to. The fact is that safety depends on the professionalism of the doctor and the regularity of changing lamps. If a specialist incorrectly prepares or applies the mixture or does not observe the session time, the tissue may be damaged. In good dentistry, the risk is minimal. At SoloDent, lamps are regularly changed, the proportions of active substances and the duration of the session are carefully controlled.

The Zoom system contains useful elements: calcium, fluorine.

What about laser?

Laser whitening is more expensive, and safety also depends on the professionalism of the doctor and the quality of the equipment. The main difference is that the gel is activated using a laser, not an LED lamp. The laser helps to thicken the enamel, which has a beneficial effect on the condition of the teeth.

Lightening gel activation with laser

Home or office?

If the answer to the question of whether teeth whitening in dentistry is harmful is clear: it depends on the clinic, then with a home system everything is so simple. We would like to immediately separate folk remedies and home whitening systems. The first include all kinds of mixtures based on activated carbon, soda, peroxide and lemon juice. These mixtures are not only harmful, but also ineffective. Due to the high abrasiveness of soda and coal, tissues are injured, increasing the risk of wedge-shaped defects and cervical caries. We do not recommend using folk remedies.

The second group is home systems, for example Opalescence, Zoom. Their effectiveness is obvious and their safety has been proven. But there is a nuance - contraindications, so it is important to visit a dentist before use.

Home systems consist of an active gel, a special mouth guard, and brushes for application. Security is ensured by:

● low concentration of the active substance – 15% versus 30% used in office;

● high water content in the gel, which protects tissues from dehydration;

● short-term – the procedure takes only half an hour.

The effectiveness of such systems has been tested by numerous studies and proven by patients. Visible lightening is achieved in 6-10 sessions.

Home system Opalescence

Special toothpastes

This is the most affordable way to whiten teeth at home. As a rule, these pastes contain abrasive particles that remove plaque and polish the enamel, making it lighter.

The main advantage of all home whitening methods is that they are affordable. But with their help, it will be possible to lighten the enamel by no more than 2–3 tones, and to maintain this effect, the procedures will have to be repeated with enviable regularity.

Important to remember!

Uncontrolled use of home teeth whitening methods can damage the enamel and cause its thinning. In addition, all of them, like professional methods, have their contraindications and require prior consultation with a dentist.

Home whitening

The method is suitable for those who want to whiten their teeth without risk to health and save a lot of money. However, before using whitening at home, it is recommended to consult a dentist to avoid mistakes when choosing the appropriate product and in the process of using it.

Home whitening systems with trays

Gel with individual trays for home whitening is issued in dentists after consultation with a doctor. Simpler sets with standard mouth guards can be purchased at the pharmacy. Due to the low concentration of hydrogen peroxide or urea in the gel, teeth are lightened by 5 to 8 tones. The price of the set varies from 2,000 to 7,000 rubles. The cost of making an individual mouthguard will be about 6,000 rubles.

Stripes

The devices contain a gel with a small content of hydrogen peroxide. The strips are applied to the teeth for about 30 minutes for a month. The effect is lightening by 3 – 5 tones. The cost of the kit is from 1,000 to 4,000 rubles. Perhaps the most effective means of this type will be Crest strips.

Gels and varnishes

The teeth are coated with a whitening agent with remineralizing components using a brush or brush. As a rule, the solution does not require rinsing and is used regularly for two weeks. Teeth become 1–2 shades whiter. Purchase costs will range from 300 to 1,000 rubles. One example of such products is the Blanx whitening pencil.

Whitening pastes

Toothpastes, rinses, brushes and flosses with a whitening effect in rare cases “increase” whiteness by a maximum of 1 tone. Experts recommend using such products to maintain the results of professional whitening. The simplest whitening paste can be bought at an affordable price - from 150 rubles. Low-abrasion toothpaste with a brightening effect, Extreme Whitening Swissdent, will cost more.

Is teeth whitening harmful?

The peculiarity of all whitening methods is their relative safety. On the one hand, if the patient has absolutely healthy, strong teeth, then the enamel lightening procedure, carried out once every 2-3 years, will not cause much harm. On the other hand, regular use of chemical reagents that whiten teeth causes a gradual thinning of tooth enamel and makes it sensitive. Home lightening is especially dangerous when patients use available and advertised whitening products without taking into account their specificity and the individual characteristics of their enamel.

Before you sign up for a whitening procedure, you must consult a dentist and choose a real professional to perform it. A correctly calculated concentration of the active substance applied to the enamel, the depth and time of its exposure will minimize the risk of complications after bleaching and its negative impact on the enamel.

Who can benefit from teeth whitening?

Unfortunately, some patients cannot undergo whitening for individual reasons. For example, the procedure is contraindicated during pregnancy and under the age of 18 years. There are other reasons why a dentist will refuse you a procedure.

Who can benefit from teeth whitening? Patients with the following symptoms are at risk of experiencing discomfort or pain during whitening and experiencing increased tooth sensitivity:

• deep caries;
• already existing hypersensitivity;
• tartar and plaque on enamel;
• treatment with medications that increase sensitivity to UV.

In the first two cases, the patient runs the risk of getting a burn and severe sensitivity of the enamel after the procedure. If there is tartar or plaque, the whitening gel will not fulfill its purpose and whitening will not occur.