Most people believe that the keys to a bright and beautiful smile are shiny white teeth. It is no wonder that many people do not just content themselves with brushing after every meal, but also undergo occasional teeth whitening process too.
As the term connotes, teeth whitening is actually a simple process of bleaching a person’s teeth. The whitening products contain either of the two kinds of bleaches, hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which break strains on the teeth into smaller pieces thereby making the color less concentrated and the teeth looking brighter, describes Mouth Healthy.
Teeth whitening products can be categorized into two major groups – one is the peroxide-containing bleaching agents, and the other one are those called dentifrices or whitening toothpaste.
When a product bleaches the tooth, it works on removing the deep and surface stains on it. But there are also non-bleaching products which work by physical or chemical action to help remove surface stains on the teeth only, notes the American Dental Association website.
While many would find it surprising, but it is actually possible to have stains inside the tooth called intrinsic stains. These can be caused by exposure to too much fluoride as a child while the teeth are developing as well as medications and possible tooth injury.
Need to consult dentists
Whitening products may be administered by dentists in the dental clinics, dispensed by dentists for home use, or purchased over-the-counter.
However, what most consumers do not understand is that even though teeth whitening is a simple process, they still need to consult their dentists to make the process effective. Whether most people believe it or not, whitening does not work on all teeth.
Before deciding to whiten one’s teeth, the person should talk and consult his or her dentist as whiteners may not correct all types of teeth discolorations.
It is important first for the dentist to determine what caused the discoloration of the teeth before he can prescribe the proper whitening product and the correct way to administer it so that the process would come out effective and produce the desired results.
Based on the experiences of most dentists, yellow teeth will most likely bleach well but brown teeth will not. Teeth with gray tones may no longer bleach at all. People should also bear in mind that whitening will not work on caps, veneers, crowns, or fillings. The process will also prove ineffective for teeth whose discoloration was caused by medications or a tooth injury.
Causes of teeth discolorations
The outer layer of a tooth is called the enamel while the inner and softer part is called the dentin. The color of the natural teeth is created by the reflection and scattering of light off the enamel combined with the color of the dentin under it.
A person’s genes also determine the thickness and smoothness of his teeth’s enamel. So the thinner the enamel is, the more the color of the dentin shows through on the teeth.
Having a smoother or rougher enamel also affects the reflection of light bouncing off the enamel and thus the teeth’s color too. Every day, a thin coating called pellicle forms on the enamel and picks up stains. Tooth enamel also contains pores that can hold stains.
So while brushing can take off most of these stains, there are still elements of the stain that are left in the enamel, which over time becomes thick, causing the discoloration.
It is important to note that the primary causes of teeth discoloration are food and drinks which mean that all people are affected by it.
Coffee, tea, red wine, and carbonated drinks are often the cause of teeth stains. These substances contain intense color pigments known as chromogens that often stick to the enamel. Some food substance particularly those cooked in thick oil also have those substances.
Smoking is the second primary cause of teeth discoloration because tobacco has two chemicals that create stubborn stains on the enamel – tar and nicotine. While tar is naturally dark, nicotine is colorless but gains some hue when mixed with oxygen. It eventually turns into a yellowish substance that sticks to the enamel.