A beautiful, white smile can create a great first impression - giving you a boost of confidence. However, over time, teeth can become stained and discoloured due to ageing, diet, and lifestyle habits. Fortunately, many safe and effective teeth whitening products or procedures can help you restore your brighter, whiter smile.
What is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is a process that lightens the colour of teeth by removing stains and discolouration. The most common cause of tooth discolouration is the accumulation of pigments from food, beverages, or tobacco and nicotine use. These pigments can penetrate the tooth enamel, the hard outer layer of the tooth, giving the teeth a yellow or brown appearance.
Types of Teeth Whitening
There are two main types of teeth whitening:
Professional teeth whitening is performed by a dentist in a dental clinic. This type of whitening is generally more effective than at-home methods and can achieve dramatic results in a shorter period of time.
At-home teeth whitening involves using over-the-counter whitening products, such as whitening toothpastes, whitening strips, or whitening trays. These products typically take longer to see results than professional whitening, but they are more affordable and safe to use for a longer period of time.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
When it comes to achieving a brighter, whiter smile, the world of teeth whitening products and treatments offers a variety of ingredients, each with its own unique mechanism for tackling tooth discolouration and stain removal. From your bathroom sink to the dentist's chair, understanding the range of options and key components can help you make informed choices about the best ways to enhance the natural beauty of your teeth. There are few ingredients in whitening products that are used by dentists that can effectively whiten your teeth.
➔ Mild abrasives: The Journal of the American Dental Association reports that some toothpaste contains only mild abrasives. These ingredients don't bleach your teeth: they remove surface stains by gently scrubbing them off your enamel. These toothpastes are safe to use every day.