Whitening your teeth is a good way to improve the appearance of your smile and enhance your beauty. There are different ways to whiten your teeth - whether it is professional treatments or other methods or products that can be used in the comfort of your home. The best approach depends on one's budget, lifestyle, time frame, and degree of discoloration.
What is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is a process that can remove stains, black spots, or discolouration and make your teeth whiter. Teeth whitening products and treatments can lighten both surface stains as well as deeper, intrinsic stains that may occur within the enamel of your teeth.
It's important to note that whitening is not a one-time event; it may require periodic treatments or regular use of whitening products. Before getting into the cost of teeth whitening, let’s find out the causes of tooth discolouration or yellow stains on teeth.
What Causes Tooth Discolouration or Stains?
It is not unusual for teeth to become discoloured or stained over time. There are many reasons teeth might begin to look dull-white, yellow, brown, or even greyish. Some of these include:
Eating or drinking pigmented foods or drinks like coffee, tea, or red wine
Smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco since nicotine can cause staining and make your teeth look darker and more yellow
Poor oral hygiene practices, such as infrequent brushing and flossing which enables plaque and tartar build up on the teeth. Over time, this can impair one’s oral health and lead to tooth discolouration and yellowing.
Ageing can also cause teeth to become darker as the dentin, the layer of under the tooth enamel, starts to show through.
Certain medications, including antibiotics and supplements, can cause intrinsic tooth staining.
What Are The Options For Teeth Whitening?
There are different types of teeth whitening methods and treatments. The right whitening product or procedure for you depends on the severity of your stains and other factors, including your baseline oral health, time availability, expected longevity of results, and potential side effects.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
During an in-office treatment, a professional dentist carefully applies an effective tooth whitening gel to your teeth that has potent whitening properties.
In-office treatments typically involve using a high concentration of teeth bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide gel or carbamide peroxide in a controlled environment. These types of treatments can help with a whiter smile in a shorter duration of time and you may find that results are long-lasting.
Professional At-Home Teeth Whitening Kits
Teeth whitening kits typically involve a product with a whitening agent along with a whitening device that could accentuate the whitening effect - like an LED tray. These professional at-home whitening kits are typically provided by dentists to use in the comfort of your home. This can also be followed up with regular dental cleanings.
Other Teeth Whitening Products
Teeth whitening toothpastes, toothbrushes, strips, and pens are items that are typically more budget-friendly and convenient when compared to professional treatments. The results might not be as fast as in-office treatments, but they can still produce visible teeth whitening over a period of time.
