Tooth Whitening Salem NH

Everyone would love to have a bright, white smile, a clean, "Hollywood" grin full of pearly whites, but for many reasons some people have discolored or less than white teeth. In some cases the natural color of their teeth is not white, but slightly off-white or even a shade of yellow. In other instances, certain chemicals, whether in food, drinks or cigarettes or even fluoride itself, have discolored their teeth from their natural whiteness. Tooth Whitening can help allievate issues with discolored teeth and help an individual gain the smile they desire.

No matter what the reasons for why a person's smile is less than white, many people are choosing to whiten their teeth. An estimated ten million Americans spend an incredible $1.7 billion on tooth whitening products and procedures. In fact, tooth whitening is the most common cosmetic service provided by dentists. In addition, there are growing numbers of over-the-counter products for whitening your teeth at home.

The main ingredient in tooth whitening products is either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. The peroxide actually bleaches the enamel. Carbamide peroxide usually comes in concentrations of 10 percent, 16 percent and 202 percent. Currently the American Dental Association only gives its Seal of Acceptance to those treatments containing 10 percent. Peroxide whiteners typically come in a gel placed in a mouthguard that is worn throughout the night or for a few hours during the day. Both applications are generally used for about 1 to 2 weeks. If a dentist prescribes at-home treatment, he or she can make a custom filled mouthguard molded from your own teeth.

Whitening can also be done at home with over the counter products like tooth whitening strips, mouthguards and gel and with whitening toothpastes. The strips and mouthguard treatments as well as some of the toothpaste products all contain some form of peroxide, usually hydrogen peroxide. Over-the-counter tooth whiteners do not come with a custom fit mouth guard and the consumer will need to ensure that they have a good fit. A poor fitting mouth guard during the tooth whitening process could lend to a poor or slower whitening effect when it comes to tooth whitening.

Lastly there are crowns, veneers and bonding. Crowns are thin `shells' that encase the entire tooth and end just above the gumline. These usually last between 10 and 15 years and they remain white as long as they are kept clean. Veneers are similar to crowns except they only cover the front of the teeth. Crowns tend to have greater durability that veneers. Bonding is most often used when a tooth is damaged or when a deformation needs repairing, like a chipped tooth. All three methods are most often used for structural work, to repair defects or damage, but they are considered a form of cosmetic whitening.

The main disadvantage to crowns, veneers and bonding is cost. The cost of crowns can run anywhere from $600 to $3,000 per tooth. Most insurance companies will cover the cost of crowns if it a corrective procedure.

Many people who decide to whiten their teeth go to their family dentist for the procedure. The dentist will tailor the treatment to the individual patient, with a controlled application of either of the two whitening agents. The treatments may be in the office or the dentist could prescribe home treatments. The results are fast and beautiful when the dentist assists a patient with tooth whitening.

Before the dentist begins the whitening treatment, a thorough check of the patient's dental condition is made. The dentist will clean the teeth and fill in any cavities as well as checking the patient's gums for signs of gingivitis or other conditions.

Generally, the in-office procedure begins with a gentle cleaning with a mildly abrasive cleaner. The gum tissues are isolated either with a rubber dam or a protective gel. Then the dentist will apply the hydrogen peroxide to the teeth, usually as a paste. Sometimes this will be coupled with high intensity light to speed up the bleaching process. The results of the use of high intensity lights have been shown to have varying results in studies. Often, the dentist will rinse off the paste and reapply it several times during the procedure. The whitening process can make teeth between four and six shades lighter with just one 40 minute treatment. The results are astonishing when compared to how long over-the-counter whiteners can take to produce the same affect-some tooth whitening products that four to six weeks to show results.

Sometimes a dentist will prescribe at-home whitening for his patients. These treatments use the same chemicals, but will also sometimes include a flavoring agent. Some gels include fluoride to reduce tooth sensitivity, which is sometimes a side-effect of the whitening procedure.

The dentist will first take impressions of the patient's mouth in order to fashion soft, custom mouth trays. Patients would then take the trays home, put a ribbon of gel in the tray and wear the trays for about 2 hours during the day or during sleep. For stubborn stains, the trays can be worn for up to six weeks.

At-home whitening, combined with office treatments can achieve up to 15 shades of whitening. The dentist can help determine what type of procedure is best for you. Patients with decayed teeth or numerous fillings or crowns might not benefit from the procedure. The dentist can also help decide which procedure to use, whether it's in-office or at-home. The concentration of the hydrogen peroxide in the gel is a major determining factor in how quickly and safely the patient's teeth can be whitened and the dentist can alter or modify the regimen if problems arise.

The disadvantage of a dentist supervised whitening procedure is the cost. In-office and at-home procedures can cost upwards of $1,000 and generally take longer to get started. At-home procedures can cost less than in-office procedures.

It is possible to whiten your teeth yourself with over-the-counter products. They use the same chemicals as those used by dentists, and are easy to use and can be done at your leisure. It is always a good idea to get your teeth checked before beginning a whitening procedure. Have your teeth professionally cleaned and make sure your gums are healthy.

The cost of the over the counter whitening procedures are considerably less than dentist supervised whitening, with whitening product going for between $10 and $35.
The most popular products contain the same hydrogen peroxide or carbamide, applied with strips of in teeth trays.

The other advantage to the over the counter products is that they are ready to use immediately. There is no waiting for a dental appointment. Simply purchase the product and begin using it.

The disadvantage of the over the counter whitening product is the lack of professional supervision. Some people are simply not good candidates for whitening due to decayed teeth or extensive dental work which will show as uneven coloring once whitening is done. Without professional supervision, if the concentration is too high or too low, you will have no professional help to modify the procedure if needed. Store bought products are also made for the mass market and the trays may not fit your teeth well, leaving gaps in coverage which could create uneven results or even cause irritation to the gums.

Tooth whitening strips are available over the counter. These are thin strips of flexible plastic, coated on one side with hydrogen peroxide. The strips come in pairs, one for the upper teeth and one for the lower. These generally only cover the front teeth. Also, since the strips are flat and the teeth are not, it is sometimes difficult to put in place and keep in place.

Strips are not as visible as trays are and are therefore easier to use anytime of the day. They do not cause the jaw irritation that trays do and there is much less instance of gagging and salivation that can make mouthguards uncomfortable.

Tooth whitening has been in practice since the mid 1800s. Originally, chloride of lime was used to bleach teeth and eventually other bleaching agents such as oxalic acid, etherperoxide and finally hydrogen peroxide were employed. By the 1900s, bleaching using 35 percent hydrogen peroxide activated by light or heat was the accepted norm. In 1989, Haywood and Heymann introduced nightguard bleaching for at-home use using 10 percent carbamide peroxide in custom fitted trays. The lower concentrations of peroxide ensured that the procedure was safe and effective.

Tooth whitening, whether in the office with a dentist's supervision or at home with over the counter products has been proven safe and effective in most studies, with one qualification. Most whitening gels contain a concentration of around 10 percent carbamide peroxide and have been shown to not cause damage to tooth enamel. Gels with higher concentrations of carbamide or hydrogen peroxide can weaken enamel, but the dentist will usually offset this by adding fluoride to strengthen teeth. Higher concentrations can also lead to tooth sensitivity as well. If sensitivity occurs or if there is any gum irritation, the frequency of the applications can be altered so that the procedure is done less frequently. Some patients can have fluoride prescribed to them to help treat sensitivity.

Whether done in the office or at home, teeth whitening can certainly improve your smile and the procedures are generally safe and effective with very few, if any, side effects. The user of tooth whitening products will need to report any issue that arises from toothing whitening product use to a dentist so that the dentist can determine the right measures to take to allieviate the matter.

Teeth are made up of an inner layer of dentin and an outer layer of enamel. Think of the enamel as the porcelain finish on a sink. As we put things in our mouths like food, coffee, tea or even cigarette smoke, it adds to a pellicle film on the enamel layer. With each successive drink or meal we add to that film until it builds up over all the enamel. The enamel layer is made up of hydroxyapatite crystals and the layer is porous, so after a while, the staining agents work their way into the teeth and stain them.

A dentist can clean away the pellicle film through scraping and treatments and even brushing everyday helps remove most of the stains, but as this pellicle film stays on your teeth, it works its way deeper, staining the tooth, requiring a more concerted effort to clean it away. Tooth whitening effectively removes the stains that appear on one's teeth over time.

Other types of chemicals can discolor teeth. Certain antibiotics such as tetracycline and minocycline can discolor your teeth. Surprisingly, an overdose of fluoride can cause discoloration as well. Also, as we get older, the mineral structure of our teeth alters and becomes less porous. This can lead to a darkening of the teeth so that an adult's teeth are generally darker than a child's teeth.

This is where whiteners come in. Whiteners usually contain either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. Carbamide peroxide breaks down in the mouth to form hydrogen peroxide and urea, so it's essentially the same thing. These chemicals clean deep down inside the enamel layer of the tooth, setting off a chemical reaction and breaking down the staining agents, basically bleaching the enamel crystals white again.

Sometimes a tooth becomes darkened after being bumped or chipped due to an accident. Sometimes a root canal has changed the color of the tooth. These are signs of an unhealthy nerve associated with that tooth. In these cases whitening will most likely not help. Whitening may temporarily change the color of the tooth, but the underlying problem is still present and the tooth needs professional attention.

As noted above, if you have extensive dental work, including fillings, dental bonding, veneers, crowns or other cosmetic repairs, whitening will most likely not affect the repaired surface and the resulting color variations will appear strange. Bleaching has no effect on most amalgam materials used for cosmetic repair.

If your teeth have white spots or decay, or infected gums, you are probably not a good candidate for whitening. Tooth whitening bleach is not effective in these instances. Bleaching is also least effective where the original tooth color is grayish. Bleaching is most effective with yellow discolored teeth.

Teeth whitening is the best thing to have happened for people with stained and discolored teeth. People have been able to make their teeth whiter by taking advantage of the various teeth whitening products and teeth whitening methods available. However, like all good things, teeth whitening has its own set of disadvantages. People who have opted for tooth whitening have experienced different complications that range from mild irritations to severe pain.

In a craze for getting that flashy Hollywood style smile, the majority of people rush into teeth bleaching without realizing if there are repercussions. Although it isn’t too dangerious, teeth bleaching can cause problems. People who use various kinds of home remedies for teeth whitening may incur indirect effects to tooth enamel and gums. When people use home remedies, they usually rely on acidic properties of certain fruits. This acid can deteriorate your teeth's enamel and make a person's smile worse than ever.

In regards to over the counter and dental whitening products, prolonged bleaching can lead to severe irritation in the teeth and gums. Teeth whitening products make use of chemicals like Hydrogen Peroxide that need to be used in the right concentration and right quantities to have the desired effects. People who use tooth whitening products at home do not pay much attention to their correct usage. Teeth whitening, like any other treatment or surgery, needs to be done under the supervision of an expert. A dentist is the right person to consult regarding this subject. If done properly, which requires consulting a dental expert, teeth whitening is harmless. It is only when people buy teeth whitening products over the counter and use them without following the proper directions that it is dangerous.

First and foremost, the chemicals that the tooth whitening products use like hydrogen peroxide can cause irritation to the delicate and soft tissues in your mouth. When teeth bleaching is done in a dentist’s office, the dentist takes care of this by placing a dental dam to prevent the chemicals from getting in contact with anything besides the teeth. Many people have reported a prolonged and increased sensitivity in their teeth to hot and cold things like coffee or colas. Gum irritation is not uncommon. There is a probability of the teeth whitening product being ingested by the patients, causing nausea, vomiting or a burning sensation.

Recently, there has been talk about a study done in Georgetown University, which says hydrogen peroxide may cause tongue cancer. This study is based on the results of two people in their 20’s getting cancer. It is important to note that the study looked at only 19 people who used teeth whiteners. Researchers theorize that when hydrogen peroxide in the gel leaks from trays it releases cancer-causing "free radical" cells, which may have caused the tongue cancer.

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