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The Truth About Teeth Whitening

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Teeth-WhiteningMost people want the whitest smile that they can get. One of the quickest ways to get a nice smile is with teeth whitening. This procedure uses bleaching to restore your teeth to their natural color. It’s a particularly useful process if you have stained teeth.

There are various reasons why your teeth can become stained over time. Smokers typically have stained teeth since tobacco use over time will cause it. Consuming a lot of dark-colored foods or beverages can also cause the problem.

The results obtained from teeth whitening can vary in individual cases. The results often depend on how stained the teeth were to begin with. In order to avoid having unrealistic expectations, you should ask your dentist what to expect after the procedure has been completed. There are shade charts that you can look at so you can get a good idea of what to expect.

Before the dentist can begin whitening your teeth, he will need to put protective gauze around your gumline to protect it from the chemicals. After they are properly protected, he will apply concentrated peroxide gel on your teeth.

Some of these gels require exposure to a curing light or laser in order to work properly. The gel will remain on your teeth in 15 minute intervals. The maximum amount of time that it can be left on your teeth is an hour.

After this maximum time has elapsed, the dentist will rinse away the gel with water and fluoride. If your teeth are very stained, then you may have to come back for another session. Some patients report experiencing sensitivity after the process.

People with this problem with have increased sensitivity to pressure and touch. Heating particularly hot or cold items may also cause problems. If you have cracks in your teeth or a receding gumline, then you’ll have a higher risk of experiencing this sensitivity. Another possible side effect of this procedure is gum irritation which can last for several days.

After having your teeth whitened, you will need to practice good oral hygiene to keep the results. This means brushing your teeth after every meal and before going to bed. It’s also best that you avoid consuming dark-colored beverages and foods for a few days.

Some of these foods include juices, mustard, red wine, coffee, and tomato sauce. If you consume these foods within a days of the procedure, they may cause more staining since the pores in your enamel may not have had enough time to close.

You don’t always have to get your teeth whitened in the dentist’s office. There are professional kits that your dentist can provide you with. You will need to leave the peroxide gel on your teeth for a longer period of time since it will be a lower concentration.

These kits normally include bleaching trays that you put into your mouth. People often go to sleep with them in their mouths to let the gel do its work overnight. You can also buy over-the-counter kits for teeth whitening. However, they offer the lowest concentration of this gel, so you would need to leave them in for longer periods of time.

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