Whitening as a term though refers to the restoring of a tooth’s surface colour by the removal of dirt and debris. This means that a toothpaste is referred to as a whitener. That said, most whitening products contain bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, but the reason they are called teeth whitening products rather than teeth bleaching is purely commercial.
What Are The Two Types Of Tooth Staining?
Extrinsic Stains
Stains that appear on the surface of the teeth due to dark coloured drinks, food and tobacco are known as extrinsic stains. These are caused by dark drinks such as red wine, tea, coffee, cola and also foods and tobacco. Most extrinsic stains are superficial and can be removed by regular brushing, but more immovable extrinsic stains require a more aggressive treatment, such as bleaching or at home teeth whitening product.
Intrinsic Stains
Stains that form on the interior of the teeth are known as intrinsic stains and are as a result of aging, trauma and exposure to minerals. It was widely believed that intrinsic stains were too challenging for bleaching to have any effect. That hypothesis has changed in recent years, and it is now evident that intrinsic stains can be removed with a number of top quality, at home teeth whitening products if applied regularly.
So What Are The Main Reasons for Teeth to Stain or Become Discoloured?
Age: Teeth will stain naturally as a result of wear and tear over a long period of time. The most affected are the over fifties as they have immersed a host of stubborn stains that are extremely difficult to remove. People in their forties will see the effects of yellow and brown teeth and will need a lot more maintenance than anyone in their twenties or thirties.
Eating Habits: Drinking of red wine, tea, coffee and dark coloured soda is a big reason for discoloured teeth as well as some foods. Acidic fruits and vinegar are also bad for your teeth as they will contribute to the erosion of the tooth enamel.
Grinding: This can cause micro cracks in the tooth enamel that lead to dark spots visible on the teeth. Grinding is common for a lot of people when they sleep. There are cures for this though, and stopping this will help prevent discolouration.
Try Teeth Grinding Help, which gives good advise on how to correct this problem
Starting color: We are all equipped with an inborn tooth color that ranges from yellow-brownish to greenish-grey, and intensifies over time. Yellow-brown is generally more responsive to at home teeth whitening products than green-grey.
Smoking: One of the main intrinsic discolourations is caused by smoking as the nicotine leaves a brown deposit which will sink slowly into the tooth enamel.
Thinness and Translucency: The thinning of the tooth enamel will become more pronounced with age. All teeth, whether young or old show some form of translucency, but those people that are born with thicker enamel, do have an advantage. People born with thinner teeth will have a more transparent look, but teeth that are thicker will be brighter and more responsive to home teeth whitening treatments.
Trauma: Some form of injury to the teeth that is incurred during life, can cause cracks in the teeth which will lead to large deposits of debris. This debris will enhance any staining that could appear as it will get ingrained within these micro cracks.
So What Options Are Available to Solve These Problems?
There are two main options that can be taken to solve the problem of stained or discoloured teeth.
Professional Whitening
The quickest solution to discoloured or stained teeth is to get a professional teeth whitening treatment from a dentist. By using a qualified dental technician or professional dentist, you will get a relatively high concentration of peroxide gel applied to your teeth. The gel will remain on the teeth for 15 to 20 minutes and subjected to UV or Ultraviolet light before being removed and applied again for the same duration. You may have this repeated a third time, but it will be no longer than an hour for the whole procedure. If the stains are really stubborn then you may be asked to return for a further treatment.
Home Teeth Whitening
The most convenient and cost effective treatment is at home teeth whitening products, which contains a bleaching gel that is lower in concentration than a professional tooth whitening formula. The gel can be applied by a number of different product types, such as, trays, strips, or paint on pen/brush applicators. This is considerable cheaper than professional teeth whitening but will take more applications to achieve the same results.
What is The Difference between Hydrogen Peroxide and Carbamide Peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide is normally used for professional teeth whitening and is powerful and fast acting. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide ranges from between 9% and 40 %.
By distinction, carbamide peroxide that is used in most at home teeth whitening products is about a third of the strength of hydrogen peroxide. This equates to 15% carbamide peroxide solution being equivalent to about a 5% solution of hydrogen peroxide.
What Are the Risks Of At Home Teeth Whitening Products?
Most at home teeth whitening products, such as Idol White and Alta White that we recommend are safe if you follow the instructions as directed, however there are some side effects that you need to be aware of:
Gum Irritation:
A high percentage, over 50% of people that use at home teeth whitening that contain peroxide whitening will experience a degree of gum irritation. This irritation can last a number of days, but will decrease over time.
Sensitivity:
Some people will feel a higher sensitivity in their teeth to hot liquids or foods and also when touched. This is more common when the treatment has been applied professionally, as there is a higher concentration of bleach.
People with tooth decay will feel the most sensitivity due to larger cracks in their teeth or damaged fillings. These people might get a shooting pain down the centre of individual teeth, indicating a dental problem.
Toothpastes high in potassium nitrate will help with any sensitivity.
Filling and Crowns:
Fillings and crowns are not affected by any teeth bleaching products as they do not contain the same makeup as tooth enamel. At home teeth whitening products only whiten natural teeth, the same as a professional tooth whitening treatment. Any crowns or filling will need to be replaced at a dentist to match the colour of your teeth.
What Are The Two Types Of Tooth Staining?
Extrinsic Stains
Stains that appear on the surface of the teeth due to dark coloured drinks, food and tobacco are known as extrinsic stains. These are caused by dark drinks such as red wine, tea, coffee, cola and also foods and tobacco. Most extrinsic stains are superficial and can be removed by regular brushing, but more immovable extrinsic stains require a more aggressive treatment, such as bleaching or at home teeth whitening product.
Intrinsic Stains
Stains that form on the interior of the teeth are known as intrinsic stains and are as a result of aging, trauma and exposure to minerals. It was widely believed that intrinsic stains were too challenging for bleaching to have any effect. That hypothesis has changed in recent years, and it is now evident that intrinsic stains can be removed with a number of top quality, at home teeth whitening products if applied regularly.
So What Are The Main Reasons for Teeth to Stain or Become Discoloured?
Age: Teeth will stain naturally as a result of wear and tear over a long period of time. The most affected are the over fifties as they have immersed a host of stubborn stains that are extremely difficult to remove. People in their forties will see the effects of yellow and brown teeth and will need a lot more maintenance than anyone in their twenties or thirties.
Eating Habits: Drinking of red wine, tea, coffee and dark coloured soda is a big reason for discoloured teeth as well as some foods. Acidic fruits and vinegar are also bad for your teeth as they will contribute to the erosion of the tooth enamel.
Grinding: This can cause micro cracks in the tooth enamel that lead to dark spots visible on the teeth. Grinding is common for a lot of people when they sleep. There are cures for this though, and stopping this will help prevent discolouration.
Try Teeth Grinding Help, which gives good advise on how to correct this problem
Starting color: We are all equipped with an inborn tooth color that ranges from yellow-brownish to greenish-grey, and intensifies over time. Yellow-brown is generally more responsive to at home teeth whitening products than green-grey.
Smoking: One of the main intrinsic discolourations is caused by smoking as the nicotine leaves a brown deposit which will sink slowly into the tooth enamel.
Thinness and Translucency: The thinning of the tooth enamel will become more pronounced with age. All teeth, whether young or old show some form of translucency, but those people that are born with thicker enamel, do have an advantage. People born with thinner teeth will have a more transparent look, but teeth that are thicker will be brighter and more responsive to home teeth whitening treatments.
Trauma: Some form of injury to the teeth that is incurred during life, can cause cracks in the teeth which will lead to large deposits of debris. This debris will enhance any staining that could appear as it will get ingrained within these micro cracks.
So What Options Are Available to Solve These Problems?
There are two main options that can be taken to solve the problem of stained or discoloured teeth.
Professional Whitening
The quickest solution to discoloured or stained teeth is to get a professional teeth whitening treatment from a dentist. By using a qualified dental technician or professional dentist, you will get a relatively high concentration of peroxide gel applied to your teeth. The gel will remain on the teeth for 15 to 20 minutes and subjected to UV or Ultraviolet light before being removed and applied again for the same duration. You may have this repeated a third time, but it will be no longer than an hour for the whole procedure. If the stains are really stubborn then you may be asked to return for a further treatment.
Home Teeth Whitening
The most convenient and cost effective treatment is at home teeth whitening products, which contains a bleaching gel that is lower in concentration than a professional tooth whitening formula. The gel can be applied by a number of different product types, such as, trays, strips, or paint on pen/brush applicators. This is considerable cheaper than professional teeth whitening but will take more applications to achieve the same results.
What is The Difference between Hydrogen Peroxide and Carbamide Peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide is normally used for professional teeth whitening and is powerful and fast acting. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide ranges from between 9% and 40 %.
By distinction, carbamide peroxide that is used in most at home teeth whitening products is about a third of the strength of hydrogen peroxide. This equates to 15% carbamide peroxide solution being equivalent to about a 5% solution of hydrogen peroxide.
What Are the Risks Of At Home Teeth Whitening Products?
Most at home teeth whitening products, such as Idol White and Alta White that we recommend are safe if you follow the instructions as directed, however there are some side effects that you need to be aware of:
Gum Irritation:
A high percentage, over 50% of people that use at home teeth whitening that contain peroxide whitening will experience a degree of gum irritation. This irritation can last a number of days, but will decrease over time.
Sensitivity:
Some people will feel a higher sensitivity in their teeth to hot liquids or foods and also when touched. This is more common when the treatment has been applied professionally, as there is a higher concentration of bleach.
People with tooth decay will feel the most sensitivity due to larger cracks in their teeth or damaged fillings. These people might get a shooting pain down the centre of individual teeth, indicating a dental problem.
Toothpastes high in potassium nitrate will help with any sensitivity.
Filling and Crowns:
Fillings and crowns are not affected by any teeth bleaching products as they do not contain the same makeup as tooth enamel. At home teeth whitening products only whiten natural teeth, the same as a professional tooth whitening treatment. Any crowns or filling will need to be replaced at a dentist to match the colour of your teeth.
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According to the FDA - US Food and Drugs Administration - bleaching as a term is only permitted to be used when teeth are whitened beyond their natural colour. Such bleaching products contain carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide.
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