Recognize What Is Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a procedure to brighten teeth by removing surface stains on teeth. Although this procedure is effective in removing stains and brightening teeth, patients still need to accompany it with good dental care so that the brightening effect on the teeth can last for a long time.

Tooth discoloration can occur due to many things, including poor dental hygiene, smoking, aging, injury, or the use of certain drugs. While teeth discoloration is generally harmless, it can have a big impact on a person’s appearance and self-confidence. 

Teeth Whitening Indications

Teeth whitening can be done by anyone who has yellow or brown stains on their teeth, especially in patients who have healthy teeth and gums, and do not have cavities.

Teeth Whitening Warning

Not all tooth stains can be treated by teeth whitening procedures. This procedure is more effective at treating yellow stains than brown stains. Meanwhile, gray or purple stains on the teeth may not be treated with this procedure. In addition, there are several conditions that cause teeth whitening procedures should not be carried out or postponed, namely:

• Under the age of 16 years, because teeth whitening has the risk of causing sensitive teeth
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Have sensitive teeth, because of the risk of worsening the condition
• Have an allergy to peroxide ( peroxide )
• Experiencing problems with teeth and gums, such as cavities or gingivitis
• Having dental restorations, such as denture crowns or dental veneers , because the results of teeth whitening will be uneven if there are artificial teeth present

If the patient wants to do a tooth restoration at the same time as teeth whitening, it is advisable to do the teeth whitening first. Restoration of teeth can be done 2 weeks later and the color will be adjusted to the color of the teeth that have been bleached. You can use teeth whitening tool from this product cinoll.com

Before Teeth Whitening

There is no special preparation for undergoing a teeth whitening procedure. However, the doctor may carry out a number of examinations to ensure that the teeth whitening procedure is the right treatment for the patient’s complaints.

In addition, the patient’s teeth will also be photographed as a comparison before and after teeth whitening.

If the patient has a large enough hole in the tooth, the tooth must be filled first before whitening the tooth. However, if the size of the hole is small, the doctor may be able to cover the hole with a special gel or rubber to protect the gums from the effects of the bleach that will be used.

Teeth Whitening Procedure

Teeth whitening procedures are generally carried out by dentists with the following stages:

• The dentist will polish the surface of the teeth with a special liquid containing acid and  pumice to remove plaque.
• The lips, gums, tongue, and inner cheeks will be protected with gauze, rubber, gel, or a brace called a retractor to keep the bleach from coming in.
• A bleach based on hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide (15–43%) is applied to the tooth surface.
• The doctor will shine the teeth with ultraviolet light for 30-60 minutes to help the whitening process.
• After that, the teeth will be cleaned of bleach and all the protectors removed.
• The doctor will apply fluoride to the teeth to reduce the pain or sensitivity that commonly occurs after the procedure.

If the results are not as desired, the patient can schedule a repeat of the teeth whitening process.

After Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening effect is not permanent. Generally, these effects can last for 1-3 years if supported by good dental care, such as:

• As much as possible avoid the consumption of foods or drinks that can stain teeth, such as coffee, tea, tomato sauce or juice, wine , and candy.
• If you eat these foods or drinks, rinse your mouth immediately afterward. If you want to brush your teeth, wait 30 minutes after consuming this food or drink.
• Quit smoking .
• Brush your teeth two times a day and use dental floss ( dental floss ) to remove the remaining food.
• Use a toothpaste containing bleach 1-2 times a week and use regular toothpaste to brush your teeth everyday.
• Perform dental examinations to the doctor regularly, at least every 6 months.

Side Effects of Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening can increase tooth sensitivity and cause mild irritation to the soft tissues in the mouth, especially the gums. However, this condition is only temporary and will disappear 1-3 days after teeth whitening.

To reduce the sensitivity of the teeth and gums, use a toothpaste containing potassium (potassium nitrate). However, it is better to first consult the use of toothpaste to your doctor.