Teeth Whitening—What To Expect




In the age of social media and selfies, everyone wants to look their best. In this regard, teeth whitening is an important aspect.
Every year, teeth whitening is becoming cheaper and easily accessible. According to a statistic, the number of Americans using tooth whiteners was 40.5 million in 2018.
While various over-the-counter tooth whiteners are effective, many are scams that end up harming the consumer. Therefore, it’s best to leave the job to a professional when it comes to teeth whitening.
Here’s a comprehensive guide on what to expect from a teeth whitening procedure.
 

Why Do Teeth Turn Yellow?

Before talking about teeth whitening, here are a few causes of yellowing teeth:
Teeth yellowing comes with aging. Over time, the dentin—inner part of a tooth—becomes yellow, instead of the enamel which is the outer part.
As the enamel of our teeth becomes thinner because of wear and overexposure to acidic drinks and foods, the darkened dentin reflects through our enamel and make the teeth appear yellow.
Other reasons for yellowing teeth are:
· Taking medicines such as antibiotics
· A trauma to the tooth
· Excessive exposure to fluoride
· Having amelogenesis imperfect which is a dental disorder that causes the teeth to become yellow
· Genetics
· Having silver fillings

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is divided into two categories:
· Intrinsic whitening
· Extrinsic whitening

Intrinsic Whitening

Intrinsic whitening consists of whitening the inner part or dentin of the tooth. The process involves the dentin soaking up a gel based of hydrogen peroxide which makes it appear lighter in color.
However, there are other methods to whiten the teeth intrinsically. These include safeguarding the teeth against premature aging. Easy lifestyle changes such as staying hydrated can protect against acid wear and prevent cavities.
Whitening the dentin of a tooth makes the overall appearance of the teeth whiter as the reflected color through the enamel is lighter.

Extrinsic Whitening

Extrinsic whitening refers to removing the stains of the enamel of the tooth.
Your dentist can remove stains caused due to excessive consumption of coffee, wine or smoking by a whitening and polishing toothpaste.
However, there are several extrinsic whitening products available in the market that aren’t entirely safe and can expose your gums to chemicals. Therefore, always consult your dentist for teeth whitening and cleaning procedures.
To avoid damaging your teeth with the whitening agents available in the market, consult professional dental services like Advanced Dental Center in Germantown.
We offer cleanings and teeth whitening procedures with safe and advanced tools for hygienic and pain-free dental solutions. Make an appointment by calling us at (301) 353-8890.

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