A snow-white smile is the dream of every person. And everyone is interested in safe teeth whitening. Many people have heard about bad experiences from friends and the Internet and are afraid to repeat these mistakes. But the procedure has been well studied, but it is important to know which Moscow clinic can provide truly high-quality and gentle teeth whitening.
Is whitening safe?
What is teeth whitening? This is a cosmetic procedure in which the color of dentin changes (namely, the color of the tooth depends on it) - lightening by several tones under the influence of active substances. Whether it is safe or not depends on the professionalism of the dentist, as well as on the technologies and drugs that are used for these purposes (these must be registered drugs, modern methods). If we are talking about whitening at home, everything is the same, only instead of a doctor, it is the rationality of a person.
ROOTT Clinic expert on the most important things when whitening
In general, whitening is a fairly safe procedure if the teeth have good mineralized enamel, healthy gums and good oral hygiene.
Indications and contraindications
Most often, the patient prescribes the indication for whitening to himself - he is not satisfied with the aesthetic appearance of especially the front teeth, which are visible when smiling. I want it to be whiter and more dazzling.
Darkening of the enamel can also occur due to frequent intake of coffee, cigarettes, dark berries and even medications.
But there are also a number of contraindications
:
- pregnancy and lactation;
- age under 18 years;
- allergies to drugs;
- the presence of fillings, crowns, veneers (they simply do not whiten);
- bracket systems, staples;
- cancer;
- hypersensitivity;
- active caries, periodontitis or other oral diseases;
- wedge-shaped defect (dentin exposed);
- rapid abrasion of enamel;
- in some cases diabetes mellitus.
You should definitely consult with your doctor about indications and contraindications so that together you can choose a safe method for teeth whitening. And of course, carry out a complete sanitation of the oral cavity to avoid uneven color after the procedure.
Before-after photos of teeth whitening at the ROOTT clinic
Causes of yellowness of tooth enamel
The reasons for the yellowness of tooth enamel can be different, let’s look at them in more detail:
- Genetic features. Every person is a carrier of a gene that determines the color of teeth. There are also congenital or hereditary diseases that cause enamel defects. Over time, teeth become yellow or light brown. If the parents had a similar disease, then there is a high probability of their children inheriting the defect.
- Sometimes darkening of the enamel or small stains on the surface of the teeth can be a consequence of a malfunction of the thyroid gland.
- Food and drinks. Some products contain pigments that can penetrate tooth tissue. The most famous are black and green tea, wine, cola and coffee, but there are others as well. Carrots, tomatoes and spinach contain carotene. It is considered a natural antioxidant, but despite all its benefits for the body, it stains tooth enamel.
- If there is a lot of fluoride in the water, then drinking such liquid leads to fluorosis. This disease is characterized by increased pigmentation of tooth enamel.
- Use of medications and presence of fillings. Tetracycline affects the dental tissue, and brownish spots appear on it. Some medications cause yellowing of tooth enamel.
- If silver amalgam was used as a filling material, then over time it affects the tooth tissue and it darkens.
- When there is injury or damage to the blood vessels inside the tooth, it also changes color. In such situations, the tooth darkens from the inside.
- If a nerve was killed during tooth treatment, the tooth will definitely darken.
- Poor care and age-related features. From the moment they appear in the mouth, teeth are affected by a variety of factors. All people's teeth turn yellow with age. To prevent this phenomenon, you should carefully care for your teeth. One of the most important roles is given to oral hygiene.
Prevention of yellowing:
- careful oral care;
- to give up smoking;
- moderate consumption of foods and drinks containing pigments.
What harm can bleaching cause?
The safest teeth whitening will be under the supervision of a professional dentist. Indeed, with inept management and the wrong approach, a number of troubles can arise:
- Negative effects on tooth enamel of incorrectly selected concentrations of bleaching agents. This is both increased sensitivity and an increase in the microporosity of its structure. Over time, the ingestion and accumulation of food dyes may cause the tooth color to become even darker than before;
- chemical burn of gum tissue due to improper isolation;
- uneven lighting.
Coconut oil
Using coconut oil works no worse than commercial mouthwashes, and it is also safer.
In its pure form, coconut oil can be used for whitening procedures 2-3 times a week; there is no need to worry about the enamel. The easiest way: hold a spoonful of coconut oil in your mouth, then rinse your teeth thoroughly with it for 5 minutes. You can also apply a little oil to a cotton pad and wipe the surface of your teeth. They also advise mixing it with baking soda and brushing your teeth with this mixture.
What whitening methods are there?
The dentist will advise which teeth whitening is safe for each patient individually. But everything that takes place under the supervision of a doctor will definitely not harm - there is no doubt about it, especially when using the latest technologies, delicate compounds and modern developments.
Professional teeth whitening methods:
- Photobleaching;
- laser whitening;
- whitening gel only;
- hardware method.
The first two methods use a lamp or laser as a catalyst for the action of the whitening gel.
Photobleaching, for example, ZOOM, enhances the effect of active hydrogen peroxide, helping to quickly break it down into free radicals - oxygen atoms. of up to 10 tones occurs.
. With proper care, the results last for several years.
The laser procedure differs in that instead of a light beam, a laser beam acts. It can heat the surface, which causes sensitivity (everything is in the hands of a professional doctor, since the advantage of a laser is accuracy), and copes well with changing color by 10-12 tones
and maintaining it for up to 5 years. The downside is the high cost of the method.
Dentists are still arguing about what is the safest teeth whitening, and whether laser and light are necessary for the best results. But it has been proven that the method of applying gel without using them is also effective. Opalescence technology with 40% hydrogen peroxide in the gel is cheaper in price and has proven itself in aesthetic dentistry.
A simple dental cleaning at the clinic is often sufficient for many people. After removing stones and plaque, the teeth become several shades lighter. Using one of these methods:
- Air-Flow hardware cleaning (the principle is similar to a sandblasting machine, but instead of sand, soda);
- ultrasound.
You can be satisfied with the result of your renewed smile.
Alternative option
The most effective way to whiten your teeth is to choose the option of professional teeth cleaning, discussing with your dentist all the features and effects of the procedure. These types of cleanses provide more noticeable, faster and longer-lasting results. The procedure generally takes about an hour, depending on the condition of the teeth. In addition, professional teeth cleaning is also useful in preventing caries, because By removing the stains, it will be easier to detect the initial stages of caries. In any case, consulting a dentist is the best way to solve any problems related to the color and health of your teeth, and to find the right solution to these problems.
Is it possible to whiten teeth safely at home?
The market offers more and more varieties of home whitening methods, whether they are safe or not - everything is individual. And the course usually lasts 10-20 days. However, not everyone is of any use.
Manufacturers offer:
- Whitening strips;
- mouth guards with active composition;
- felt-tip pens, markers;
- toothpastes with whitening effect.
All products contain the same hydrogen peroxide, but in a much lower concentration. Therefore, it will be possible to lighten and visually change the color of the enamel by 1-2 tones.
Rather, this is a lightening procedure, that is, you can safely bleach if you agree to change the shade by just a couple of tones, and are willing to spend a lot of time for a relatively small result.
But using professional products at home is not recommended. Is it dangerous.
Side effects
When purchasing whitening toothpaste, it is important to make sure you choose a safe product. However, it should be understood that the use of whitening toothpastes involves some risks - slight irritation of the gums and oral mucosa is possible, and increased sensitivity of the teeth may also develop. It's important to note that whitening toothpastes rely heavily on abrasives, and while these toothpaste components can be effective at removing surface stains, they can also remove some of your tooth enamel. The most harmful polishing materials include aluminum oxide and calcium carbonate, as they can not only wear away tooth enamel, but also lead to toothache. The safest bleaches include vegetable abrasives papain and sodium bicarbonate. Although whitening toothpastes are generally designed to provide a maximum but gentle clean and should not be too damaging to the enamel, be careful and follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
Safe whitening steps
- It is necessary
to carry out professional oral hygiene a few days - Isolation of soft
gum tissue. If you isolate the gum incorrectly, the patient will receive a severe burn, which will lead to complications. Therefore, safe teeth whitening in dentistry should only be carried out by an experienced doctor specializing in this field. - A special gel
based on hydrogen peroxide is applied. It is updated every 15 minutes: it is removed from the surface of the teeth (as it develops its properties) and a new portion is applied. The gel is changed three times. - Activation of the gel using a special lamp
. The dentist places a special lamp, the light of which will activate the gel. It is necessary to speed up the procedure and reduce it to 1 hour. The lamp has a cold LED light that does not heat the enamel structure and the procedure is comfortable for the patient. - Removing gel
from the enamel surface and all insulating materials from the gum surface. - Procedure for strengthening teeth
. A gel is applied that strengthens tooth enamel and reduces sensitivity.
Whitening is carried out in the smile zone, from 5 to 5 teeth of the lower and upper jaw. The procedure takes on average 1 hour
. Anesthesia is not given. This is necessary so that there is direct contact between the patient and the doctor, and the former can report if discomfort or pain occurs. Otherwise, you may miss the moment when something went wrong: a burn to the mucous membrane, too aggressive exposure to the material, a person’s low pain threshold.
Banana peel
Before starting the procedure, a prerequisite is to brush your teeth to remove plaque. Then you need to take a banana peel and rub the inside of it on your teeth for 3 minutes. We wait another ten minutes - and you can brush your teeth with regular toothpaste. Ideally, this procedure should be done morning and evening as an ongoing care. Naturally, the peel must be fresh every time. Bananas contain many elements useful for enamel (potassium, manganese, magnesium). After the first application, the result, of course, will not be noticeable, but if you carry out banana wipes at least once a day for about three weeks, the whitening will become noticeable.
