What Does Science Have To Do With Teeth Whitening?

The science behind teeth whitening is what makes it so effective.  If you use teeth whitening as a way to brighten your teeth and give yourself a better smile, you have stumbled upon the most effective, and inexpensive, way to improve yourself. There is a solution available to you at virtually any price point. So regardless of whether you come in to see us, your teeth whitening specialist or do your whitening at home with a do it yourself kit, you can get your teeth whitened for a very affordable price. Still, the level of results you get will be based on what is happening inside of your tooth (science).
How it works.
A chemical process, teeth whitening should always be carried out with the supervision or oversight of a dentist. This is not because the products available over the counter are harmful, but working with our office can ensure that you have no conditions that could hinder the whitening or become exasperated by the teeth whitening process. Teeth whitening involves a chemical interaction between the chemicals used to whiten and your teeth's organic make up. In order to make the teeth appear whiter, we need to make them more colorless. All matter reflects natural light, bending it so that the brain sees that particular frequency as a unique color. For the teeth, this color is white. Teeth whitening products work because of the oxidization process. However, many of the solutions you buy in the store on remove surface stains and do not start the process of oxidization.
The peroxides used in our solution quickly penetrate the enamel and release free radicals into the organic make-up of the teeth. These free radicals cause the tooth to appear more colorless, and to the brain makes them appear whiter. Since this is a chemical process, it is always advisable to be under the care of a dentist before engaging in teeth whitening. It is also advisable to be careful not to overdo it when it comes to the use of these products. Repeated and frequent exposure to peroxides can cause the teeth to become overly sensitive, and may lead to other challenges.
The two main components used in the manufacture of teeth whitening solutions are carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. Typically when you are whitening at home, with a do it yourself kit, the solution is hydrogen peroxide based. In the clinic, we will use a carbamide peroxide based solution, which also contains around 35% hydrogen peroxide. Our solution is stronger and produces better results than what you can buy in the store.
Why so many people need to whiten their teeth.
Given the exposure most people have to a variety of foods that stain and discolor their teeth, whitening is a very good option. If you stop and think about the enormous amount of coffee, alone, that is consumed and the effect these gallons can have on teeth, you begin to realize the price your teeth pay for living in the fast paced modern world. On average, 54% of adults drink at least one cup of coffee each day, 68% of those within the first hour of the day. There are over 53 thousand coffee shops to serve you a pick me up, accounting for over $4 billion in imports each year. In terms of this spending a few hundred dollars to fight off the discoloring effects of the chromogen rich coffee we drink, sounds like a bargain. 

Dental Veneers  >  Cosmetic Dentist

The Historical Perspective on Teeth Whitening

Getting a teeth whitening procedure has become a popular trend but the basic concept has been around for a very long time. Teeth whitening has bludgeoned into an entire industry, thanks in part to the concept of having the perfectly Hollywood smile. A pearly white smile comes with a boost of confidence making it the holy grail of many who seek to achieve a perfect look. The desire to have cleaner, more confident, and certainly whiter teeth is not new, however. From as long as we can remember, historically speaking, mankind has always sought to have better teeth. The first teeth cleaning devices were called chew sticks, based on the fact that they were chewed to remove plaque, and can be traced back to around 3000 BC. Ironically there are people who still swear by these ancient remedies today. 

The Chinese invented the first device designed to actually brush the plaque off of a person’s teeth. These primitive brushes were made from the hair of a Siberian Hog, making them extremely coarse but were not popularly accepting in Europe for a very long time. The Europeans believed in keeping their teeth clean, and white, by the adopted Roman custom of picking teeth.  Today that custom exists in the form of a toothpick. 

History aside, teeth whitening comes with its own set of urban legends and questions that we get from concerned patients who are considering this procedure. We must stress that teeth whitening is among the safest dental procedure you can have done. By and large all dental procedures are relatively straightforward with limited risks. Teeth whitening is one of those procedures that is so safe that many people just take on the task at home with custom whitening trays that we prepare. We recommend that you get your teeth whitened under our careful supervision for a number of reasons, including the fact that we can care for the overall health of your mouth.  While store-bought home solutions do work and are safe, they can also lead to inadvertent irritation due to leaking solution. 

From among the many questions we get, here are our most popular urban myths:

Will teeth whitening erode my enamel?  There is no evidence to suggest that teeth whitening, in any form, damages your gums. Ancient people stood more of a chance of damaging their enamel with chew sticks than you can with whitening. The Journal of American Dentistry put out a comprehensive study recently that showed that there is no danger of enamel damage when you whiten your teeth, giving further credence to the safety of these procedures. 

Can teeth whitening hurt? Teeth whitening may cause a level of sensitivity. This sensitivity is because we are putting whitening chemicals so close to the sensitive gum tissue. However, this will not last for more than twenty-four hours and will never devolve into pain. When people perform teeth whitening at home, they may be using trays that are not custom fitted to their teeth and stand a larger chance of exposing the gums to the chemicals, thereby increasing their sensitivity. This is one reason we recommend that you come to us and get all your teeth whitening needs met.