A white smile is everyone's dream. But in many cases, this cannot be achieved with ordinary toothpaste. Then whitening comes to the rescue. But before you make it, you need to know about it all the details. After all, not all methods are suitable for everyone. Teeth whitening may not be helpful. Before considering everything, you need to know why the enamel darkens.
Why do teeth change color?
So, the enamel may turn yellow due to such reasons:
- Enamel thinning. It's all about the structure of the tooth. The crown consists of several parts: the upper translucent layer (enamel) and dentin, which is darker. Over the course of life, the top layer is gradually erased. As a result, the dentin becomes more visible, the teeth darken.
- Some foods and bad habits. Enamel is negatively affected by tobacco smoke. In addition, it darkens due to prolonged use of coffee and black tea, wine, carbonated drinks.
- Tooth depulpation (a procedure for removing the nerve and filling the canal).
It is these reasons that determinemethods to whiten teeth effectively and safely.
Contraindications
In some cases, the procedure cannot be performed. Before using home methods of teeth whitening, it is necessary to consider all possible contraindications for use:
- Children under 14 years old. In this case, you can seriously damage the enamel.
- Pregnancy and lactation.
- High tooth sensitivity. Whitening can provoke a worsening of the situation, especially mechanical.
- The presence of crowns, veneers or fillings on the front teeth.
- Tooth color on the inside (blood on the canal walls).
- Natural brown or gray enamel shade. Whitening will simply be useless.
Varieties of whitening
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 surface of the tooth: plaque, stones or other deposits. Here an air-powder mixture is used, which is directed 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 the low cost and the ability to clean teeth even in hard-to-reach places. In this way, plaque from tea, coffee and tobacco smoke is removed.
- Chemical. For such procedurescarbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide is used. This is where teeth whitening takes place. It can be professional or home made.
Features of ZOOM whitening
This technique is gaining more and more approval every day. Zoom-3 whitening is a professional photobleaching that is performed in a clinical setting. The dentist in this case uses a special gel containing hydrogen peroxide, which is activated under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. As a result, active oxygen is released, capable of penetrating deep into the enamel and even dentin.
Zoom-3 whitening 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 the face, lips, gums and other areas that may be exposed to ultraviolet radiation. The rays should only hit the teeth.
- Gel is applied to the crowns.
- Now it is necessary to treat the upper and lower dentition with ultraviolet at once. 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 bleaching will not keep you waiting. However, it should be kept as long as possible. To do this, you need to pay maximum attention to oral hygiene. To maintain the result obtained, it is necessary to use home whitening gel every six months to a year.
The advantages of this procedure are: a quick effect (whiteness appears after the first visit to the doctor), control by a specialist, the ability to avoid dehydration, a low level of gel acidity (preserving the integrity of the enamel). However, after whitening, teeth become very sensitive and gums can become irritated.
Another type of enamel whitening that is done in the dentist's office is Air-flow. This procedure is not a full whitening, but a regular cleaning of plaque.
Features of laser whitening
This process is basically the same as 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, which costs significantly more than home remedies, is considered one of the safest methods.
In their work, specialists use several types of laser: gas, diode or erbium. The intensity and duration of irradiation is strictly controlled. However, after the procedure, it is necessary to restore the enamel. A special gel is used for this.
The advantages of this procedure are:
- Good efficiency.
- No pain.
- Quick result fixed for a long time.
- Maximum security compared to other methods.
There are also disadvantages: an increase in the sensitivity of the enamel after its processing, as well as enoughhigh price. 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 their grandfather's recipes.
The following tools 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. Such a recipe is quite effective. However, this product 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 greater its concentration, the whiter the teeth will be. After the procedure, however, the sensitivity of the enamel increases, there is a possibility of damage to the gums.
- Wood ash. This remedy is quite effective, but not safe.
Traditional teeth whitening methods should not be used too often.
Features of whitening with ultrasound
The safest teeth whitening methods involve the use of ultrasound technology. It is characterized by the fact that it has high efficiency and minimal enamel damage.
The disadvantage of the procedure is that it has a highprice. In addition, it is more aimed at cleaning the surface of crowns from plaque and calculus. 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.
The great advantage of ultrasonic treatment of enamel is that it becomes more receptive to other procedures. For example, after you can do fluoridation of crowns.
Despite the fact that the treatment with ultrasound is practically painless, in some cases it is still necessary to do anesthesia.
How is intracanal whitening performed?
There are times when a person's tooth begins to darken after a filling is installed. In this case, intracanal bleaching is performed. It provides for the following actions:
- Removal of the old filling.
- Clear the channel (if necessary).
- Filling the cavity of the tooth with a special whitening gel, which should lighten the internal tissues.
- Gel removal after some time (most often 2 weeks is enough).
- Repeated canal filling.
If after the first treatment the desired effect did not follow, then the whitening procedure can be repeated. But this should be done only after caries has been cured. Otherwise, the patient may develop a severe allergic reaction.
Recommendations from experts
Despite which methods will be chosen, teeth whitening is best done under the supervision of a dentist. As a last resort, you should not forget about these recommendations:
- Any enamel lightening procedure requires some preparation. Teeth should be as he althy and undamaged as possible.
- If a chemical method is used, then you need to keep the gel on the crowns exactly as long 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 it from darkening again.
- Don't repeat whitening 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 he althy smile.
