Common Teeth Whitening Systems & Their Advantages

Most teeth whitening processes makes use of peroxide as a bleaching agent to arid discolorations and stains. Enamel forms the fist layer of a tooth surface and is semi-translucent. Dentin is a layer that lies underneath the enamel and can be whitened by using a peroxide solution on the enamel, resulting in whiter teeth. The extent to which the whitening is achieved depends highly on the extent to which the teeth have been damaged and defiled.

While there is no tooth whitening process or product that can parallel the professional touch of a cosmetic dentist but these dental procedures are quite costly. One can surely obtain a set of pearl white teeth in just one sitting by using a teeth whitening procedure which makes use of application of bleaching gel to the teeth in conjunction with laser treatment to accelerate the whitening process. But surely this is not the most economical option available. There are a number of convenient teeth whitening procedures that one can follow at home to achieve somewhat the same degree of whitening as a professional. These teeth whitening systems include whitening pastes, bleaching solutions and "paint-on" whitening gels. Some of these are mentioned below:

Use of bleaching agent in a mouth-guard:

A mouth-guard or a mouth protector is a protective device that covers the teeth and gums fully and is commonly used as a part of tooth bleaching procedures. Using carbamide peroxides in these mouth pieces helps bleach the tooth enamel. These mouth-guards can be of any type ranging from “boil and bite” type which is made from thermoplastic material and kept in hot water to soften and then placed in mouth and shaped around the teeth or they can be custom fitted mouth protectors which are individually designed and provide better comfort and protection than the “boil and bite” type.

Fluoride tooth pastes:

Toothpastes are one of the most common products that are used in every home. They help remove surface stains to some degree by using abrasives. However these products are not designed to alter the teeth pigmentation like bleaching agents are. One drawback of toothpaste is that its excessive use may wear away the tooth enamel.

Teeth whitening strips:

Whitening strips are also an effective and efficient means which help whiten teeth. Placing a plastic strip on the surface of teeth, coated with a bleaching agent can help whiten the teeth effectively. As this bleaching agent is adhesive, it helps hold the strip in place.

Paint-on whitening gel:

This method provides a relatively simpler alternative for use of bleaching agents to achieve the desired effect. In this method paint-on whitening gel is painted directly onto the surface with a special applicator. For improved adherence of the bleaching gel to teeth, it is advisable that the teeth surface be clean and dry before application.