A beautiful smile without difficulty - such advertising slogans attract more and more dedicated people who want to improve their appearance. Teeth whitening is one of the most popular procedures for improving the appearance that is performed by doctors. Perhaps more successful is Botox. So, teeth whitening: the pros and cons are the topic of discussion for today.
There was an opinion that white teeth are strongly associated with health - although in practice the color of teeth has little to do with it. However, the reverse relationship is confirmed by doctors. A person with rotten teeth can not be absolutely healthy. Unfortunately, whitening does not always work the way promotional brochures are developed based on promises. Treatment can be very unpleasant, and its consequences may differ from our expectations.
The Truth from Whitening Your Teeth
Producers of whitening agents promise that their systems contain components to eliminate unpleasant sensations of hypersensitivity and pain during dental treatment. For example, it is made of fluoride and potassium nitrate. Despite this, among those who bleached their teeth, it is not difficult to find those for whom the procedure was painful. Stores and pharmacies are crowded with toothpastes, gels and elixirs to eliminate hypersensitivity. Many of them are advertised as tools that can help in dealing with symptoms after teeth whitening. On most forums devoted to this topic you can read that the problem is quite popular. Unpleasant sensations during the procedure of teeth whitening do not end with only a slight manifestation of discomfort. It can cause real pain.
Although whitening is almost always accompanied by a feeling of pressure on the teeth, many experts still continue to deny this. Unfortunately, sometimes this procedure can be a source of severe pain. Feelings can be so unpleasant that when you apply the gel at night, many patients wake up in pain. Even when the teeth are completely healthy, without any defects, you should be ready for a stable (for several weeks after surgery) sensitivity and pain that may occur during whitening.
Bleachers at work very annoying gums, which often leads to the formation of erosion, and in the morning to burning and irritation. Fortunately, immediately after the treatment the gums return to the previous state. Damage to the gums contributes to a poorly applied overlay on the teeth. For example, those who like chewing gum are forced to abandon it. This irritates the soft tissues of the teeth too much, especially those that have sharp edges.
Why is the bleaching procedure painful? The mechanism of postoperative pain is not fully known. Today there are two main reasons for such unpleasant sensations. It is believed that bleaching with carbamide peroxide or urea hydrogen causes oxidation of organic compounds contained in tooth enamel and dentin. Thanks to dyes, which damage the color of teeth, their surface is oxidized. Unfortunately, in the process of oxidation of water molecules, teeth are also destroyed - they become dehydrated, which affects the conductivity of stimuli unpleasant for us. During the oxidation reaction, the nerve tubules are exposed and the stimuli can easily penetrate the inside of the tooth and irritate the nerve endings. The second cause of pain experts call the direct effect of a substance from the pulp of tooth whitening. This applies primarily to very small quantities. And this is fortunately. Because a larger amount can easily lead to pulp necrosis, which is very dangerous. It is worth noting that the exact mechanism of discoloration is not known at present.
Whitening is not a panacea
The truth is that whitening rarely gives really white teeth. The result depends mainly on the individual characteristics of the enamel, dentine, the nature of the discoloration, from which we want to get rid of. If someone has a gray tooth with nature, after bleaching will have a yellowish tinge. Yellow teeth can also not become snow-white. Bleaching is associated more with the processing of the upper layer of enamel. And all the wives of a specialist will not make a "colored" by nature white enamel.
What other unexpected consequences can you expect after the procedure of teeth whitening - the pros and cons can be an unequal number. Depending on the structure of the teeth and the type of staining, some teeth can be whitened completely, and some, for example, only half. Leaflets for patients included in the preparation for surgery, warn that teeth at the roots are often naturally darker. On the enamel may appear white, porous spots, which eventually should disappear. In the case of uneven whitening, consolation may be that after a few days the whitening effect and the color fade a little, and the color of the teeth is compared. This can at least partially compensate for the failure. For those who have the impression of a slow disappearance of the effect of treatment, obviously, there will be a disadvantage. Teeth whitening is not permanent, as a rule, this procedure should be repeated every 3-4 years. Sometimes in the case of bleaching, even a series of procedures is not enough to get any effect. There are patients for whom a repetition of the procedure is required 3-4 times a month. Sometimes one course is not enough to achieve the effect. And sometimes vice versa. It depends on the specific circumstances of each of us. There is always one scenario and different results.
What do dentists think about teeth whitening?
Dentists say that whitening is not a constant moment for any teeth. Depending on the condition of the teeth, if there are minor damages (cracks, porosity, which can be observed only during a detailed microscopic examination), this affects the enamel much worse. The composition for bleaching contains phosphoric acids, which can make the enamel as thin as possible. This acid is also found in foods, as well as in beverages - cola, natural juices and similar beverages. Of course, the concentration of acid in food is not great, but drinking carbonated drinks without brushing your teeth after that is very bad. After all, which of us has never been wrong? Few people know that the acid should not be washed from the teeth immediately after drinking beverages with phosphoric acid. It is better to wait a little. And even better - rinse your mouth in order to reduce the acid concentration. Rinsing cleans the enamel successfully and the teeth can not be damaged during cleaning.
Experts warn that before the beginning of teeth whitening, consultations can last about an hour before the operation is performed. Although they themselves admit that doctors do not often bother to find out the details and conduct the operation "blindly." And the majority of patients, wishing to quickly get a stunning result, forget about caution. However, with a good outcome, patients often smile and gladly show the effect of the dentist's work. It is also best to take care of your teeth after bleaching. After so many expenses incurred, try to take care of the prolongation of the effect. Appropriate hygiene measures prevent other diseases - experts summarize.
What is important to remember after bleaching?
After teeth whitening, regardless of the method, do not forget:
1. Keep the diet for 3 days after the operation (in some cases and longer). You can eat anything that does not damage the white fabric. You must remember that a particular person may have a food allergy, in which a diet after surgery can be a problem.
2. The use of paste and preparations with fluoride compounds can damage the thinned enamel. This is especially important if there is a strong sensitivity or white, porous spots on the teeth.
3. Refusal to smoke during and after bleaching is a prerequisite. Some studies show that free radicals formed during whitening with substances that we inhale when smoking increase the risk of cancer of the mouth. In addition, cigarette smoke very spoils the enamel, darkens it, so that teeth whitening becomes meaningless.
4. Regular visits to the dentist after the procedure and removal of stones and stains at least once a year - is mandatory.