A white smile is the dream of every person. But in many cases, this can not be achieved with conventional toothpaste. Then the whitening procedure comes to the rescue. But before you make it, you need to know all the details about it. Indeed, not all methods are suitable for everyone. Teeth whitening may not be useful. Before you consider everything, you need to find out why the enamel darkens.
Why does the color of the teeth change?
So, enamel may turn yellow due to such reasons:
- Thinning enamel. Here the matter lies in the structure of the tooth. The crown consists of several parts: the upper translucent layer (enamel) and dentin, which is darker. Over the life of the upper layer is gradually erased. As a result, the dentin becomes more visible, the teeth darken.
- Some foods and bad habits. The enamel is negatively affected by tobacco smoke. In addition, it darkens due to prolonged use of coffee and black tea, wine, carbonated drinks.
- Toothpulping (nerve removal and canal filling).
It is these reasons that determine the methods, teeth whitening with the help of which will be carried out effectively and safely.
Contraindications
In some cases, the procedure can not be performed. Before using home-based teeth whitening methods, it is necessary to consider all possible contraindications for use:
- Children under 14 years old. In this case, the enamel can be seriously damaged.
- Pregnancy and lactation.
- High tooth sensitivity. Bleaching can trigger a worsening of the situation, especially mechanical.
- The presence of crowns, veneers or fillings on the front teeth.
- The color of the tooth on the inside (blood on the walls of the canal).
- Natural brown or gray shade of enamel. Whitening will just be useless.
Varieties of whitening
You can get a beautiful smile using different methods. Teeth whitening is done in two ways:
- Mechanical. In this case, all external contaminants are removed from the tooth surface: plaque, stones or other deposits. Here, an air-powder mixture is used, which is sent to the enamel in a strict stream. Since the powder is very fine, it practically does not damage the enamel. The advantage of this method is its low cost and the ability to brush your teeth even in hard to reach places. In this way, plaque from tea, coffee and tobacco smoke is removed.
- Chemical. To carry out such procedures, carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide is used. Here is the clarification of dental tissue. It can be professional or home.
Features of ZOOM Whitening
This technique is gaining more and more approval every day. Whitening Zoom-3 is a professional photo-bleaching that is performed in a clinical setting. In this case, the dentist uses a special gel containing hydrogen peroxide, the activation of which occurs under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. As a result, active oxygen is released that can penetrate deep into enamel and even dentin.
Whitening Zoom-3 has some features:
- First you need to consult a doctor who will examine the oral cavity. He must take into account all possible contraindications.
- Now the specialist will hide his face, lips, gums and other areas that may be exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Rays should fall only on the teeth.
- Gel is applied to the crowns.
- Now it is necessary to process the upper and lower dentition immediately with ultraviolet light. For this, a special stationary lamp is used. It emits waves of a strictly specified length. The duration of the procedure is 60 minutes.
The effect after such whitening will not take long. However, it must be kept as long as possible. To do this, pay maximum attention to oral hygiene. To support the result, you need to use homemade whitening gel every six months to a year.
The advantages of this procedure are: quick effect (whiteness appears after the first visit to the doctor), control by a specialist, the ability to avoid dehydration, low acidity of the gel (preservation of enamel integrity). However, after whitening, the teeth become very sensitive, and the gums can be irritated.
Another type of enamel brightening, which is performed in the dentist's office, is Air-flow. This procedure is not a complete whitening, but the usual cleaning of plaque.
Features of laser whitening
This process is basically similar to the previous one. Here, a special gel is also applied to the teeth, but its activation is performed using a laser. Naturally, laser teeth whitening, the price of which is much higher than the cost of home remedies, is considered one of the safest methods.
In their work, experts use several types of laser: gas, diode or erbium. The intensity and duration of exposure in this case is strictly controlled. However, after the procedure, it is necessary to restore the enamel. For this, a special gel is used.
The advantages of this procedure are:
- Good performance.
- Lack of pain.
- Fast results are fixed for a long time.
- Maximum safety in comparison with other methods.
There are also disadvantages: an increase in the sensitivity of enamel after its processing, as well as a rather high cost. In any case, laser teeth whitening, the price of which is from 13,000 rubles, is quite effective and popular.
Home methods
Despite the fact that today there are safe and effective methods of teeth whitening, some people continue to use grandfather's recipes.
Such means are considered very popular:
- Whitening toothpaste. It makes it possible to partially get rid of plaque and make the enamel lighter. However, this method will not bring much effect. Such pastes contain abrasive particles, so they can damage the enamel.
- Soda. It must be applied to the teeth. This recipe is quite effective. However, this tool also scratches the surface of the tooth.
- Peroxide. The tool is simply applied to the enamel for a while. Moreover, the longer the liquid stays on the teeth and the higher its concentration, the whiter the teeth. After the procedure, however, the sensitivity of the enamel increases, there is a possibility of damage to the gums.
- Wood ash. This tool is quite effective, but not safe.
Alternative methods of teeth whitening can not be used too often.
Features of ultrasonic whitening
The safest teeth whitening methods include the use of ultrasound technology. It is characterized by the fact that it has high efficiency and minimal chance of damage to the enamel.
The disadvantage of the procedure is that it has a high cost. In addition, it is more aimed at cleaning the surface of crowns from plaque and stone. Teeth become smoother and cleaner. As for whitening, the effect is not so high. The fact is that the teeth acquire their natural shade. That is, if natural whiteness has never been, then it will never be.
A huge advantage of ultrasonic processing of enamel is that it becomes more susceptible to other procedures. For example, after you can do crown fluoridation.
Despite the fact that the treatment with ultrasound is almost painless, in some cases you still have to do anesthesia.
How is intra channel bleaching performed?
There are times when a person begins to darken a tooth after installing a seal. In this case, intra channel bleaching is performed. It provides for the implementation of such actions:
- Elimination of an old seal.
- Cleaning the channel (if necessary).
- Filling the tooth cavity with a special whitening gel, which should lighten the internal tissues.
- Removing the gel after some time (most often 2 weeks is enough).
- Re-filling the channel.
If after the first treatment the desired effect did not follow, then the bleaching procedure can be repeated. But this should be done only after caries is cured. Otherwise, the patient may develop a serious allergic reaction.
Recommendations of specialists
Despite which methods will be chosen, teeth whitening is best done under the supervision of a dentist. In extreme cases, one should not forget about such recommendations:
- Any procedure for enamel clarification requires some preparation. The teeth should be as healthy and not damaged.
- If the chemical method is used, then you need to keep the gel on the crowns exactly as much time as indicated in the instructions.
- After home whitening, it is advisable to see a specialist to determine the condition of the teeth.
- In the future, you need to carefully monitor the purity of the enamel to prevent its re-darkening.
- Do not repeat bleaching too often. Enough 1-2 times a year.
That's all the features of the procedure. The latest teeth whitening methods are the key to a beautiful and healthy smile.