Sunday, September 28, 2008

What You Got To Know About Teeth Whitening

When it comes to teeth whitening treatments, you have to know the options available to you – actually, it’s just a choice between the blue and the red pill. I’m very fond of Matrix lines so simply bear with me, okay? Anyway, going back to teeth whitening treatments, there are presently two types of teeth whitening treatments that are open to you.

Actually, the difference lies more on the procedure rather than the treatment itself. And I’ll let you find out for yourself as you read the following paragraphs.

Over The Counter Teeth Whitening Treatments
If you’re saving up for a lot of expenses that usually comes at the end of the month – read: utility bills, credit card payments, mortgage payments and the likes – then maybe, you just have to do with over the counter teeth whitening treatments. But don’t be so glum because it’s not that bad.

The main difference between over the counter teeth whitening treatments and the other is just that in this case, you’ll be the one wearing the white coat. But hey, if you’ve got faith in your abilities, there’s nothing wrong with that, right? And at least you’ll be able to save on money and time. Professional teeth whitening treatment could take forever. You know how some dentists are, ever the perfectionists, wanting to whiten everything, even the deepest recesses of your teeth, something that not even your husband or wife would be able to notice.

There are two primary types of over the counter teeth whitening treatments and these are bleaching solutions and whitening toothpastes. And because this type of teeth whitening treatment is also known as do-it-yourself and at home teeth whitening treatment, understand that it’s all up to you how the procedure goes. If in doubt of your capabilities, you could always ask for your friend’s help. Anyway, it’s just the measurements that matter most so just remember that using too little of the whitening product is infinitely better than using too much which could lead to unwanted complications.

Professional Teeth Whitening Treatments
But let’s just say that you’re blessed in terms of finances and your only problem in life is your very yellow teeth. Right on. There’s only one thing to do then – and that’s not to mess anymore with your teeth and let a professional handle the problem. Let them do what they do best and all you have to do is sit back, open your mouth, relax and wait for the mirror to show you your new shiny white teeth.

About the author

Grace Palce is writing articles about tooth whitening and natural remedies.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Some Teeth Whitening Systems Can Actually Damage Your Teeth

I have always maintained an exceptional standard of dental hygiene. As I grew older, however, my teeth inevitably lost some of their shine. I never really liked teeth whitening toothpaste before. teeth whitening systems seemed pretty vain and pointless to me. I did not know what they used as bleaching agent in the teeth whitening system, and did not want to risk my health for whiter teeth. That was before I had any problems with white teeth. Nowadays, my teeth are yellower, and I am embarrassed about them. Teeth whitening systems seem more appealing than before now that I'm actually faced with the problems of ugly teeth!
The first teeth whitening system that I ever tried was a simple toothpaste. It promised to give me whiter teeth in five days, but could not deliver on its promise. I suppose that my teeth might have been a shade or two whiter, but the difference was hardly noticeable. I tried several other teeth whitening system brands, but none of them helped.
I tried tooth whitening gum, but I had no results either. I went in for a professional tooth cleaning, and that seemed to help a little bit, but within a week or two my teeth were the same old color again. I knew that I needed to find a better teeth whitening system, or I would die of embarrassment.
I gradually got into more elaborate methods of tooth whitening. There is actually a way of using hydrogen peroxide whitening to make your teeth whiter. Unfortunately, this is not a get method. You see, hydrogen peroxide is very harsh. I even heard rumors that it could make your gums bleed! Nonetheless, I tried this teeth whitening system out, and I had some good results with it. It was not enough, but it was a start.
In the end, I went in for a laser teeth whitening treatment. In some ways, it was the very simplest teeth whitening system. All I had to do was go in for a few laser treatments, and it was all done. The teeth whitening treatment would eventually fade, but I can always get it done again.
This teeth whitening system is extremely expensive, but it was worth it. My teeth have looked much better since then, and three years have already passed. Although it was a little bit less convenient than an at home whitening teeth system, it was a whole lot more effective.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Teeth Whitening And Sensitive Teeth

Tooth whitening to achieve that "perfect" smile has recently become extremely popular. However, there is a price to be paid for that beautiful smile. One of the side effects of tooth whitening is temporarily increased sensitivity to heat or cold. This increase in sensitivity is seen by most people as being a minor side effect of treatment, plus it usually goes away after treatment is over. However, if your teeth are already overly sensitive to temperature, then you may need to be more careful in choosing and using a tooth whitening method.

There are several different methods available for applying the whitening agent to your teeth. One is the tray type system, which uses a carrier tray to hold the whitening agent next to your teeth. Another method is the popular whitening "strips", which are made of very thin plastic impregnated with the whitening agent. These strips are designed to adhere to your teeth when pressed onto them firmly. Also available are gels which contain the whitening agent. They have a thick consistency which allows them to be applied to your teeth and stay until wiped off.

The increased sensitivity is caused by the main ingredient used in most tooth whitening products, either carbomide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. These two compounds are actually forms of bleach, hence you may see the terms "tooth whitening" and "tooth bleaching" used interchangeably. If you are using a product that contains either of these compounds, there are a few steps you can take to lessen the increase in thermal sensitivity.

One way to reduce the sensitivity is to reduce the time that the tooth whitening product remains on your teeth. For example, if the instructions call for 2 hours per treatment, then reduce this to only 1 hour. Another way would be to increase the time between treatments. If the usual frequency is once per day, then try doing the treatments every other day. If you still experience discomfort you could do both - decrease the treatment time to 1 hour and perform the treatments every other day.

Remember, even people who do not initially have sensitive teeth usually experience a temporary increase in sensitivity during treatment, so you will probably still experience some discomfort. Another suggestion is to brush your teeth before and after treatment with a toothpaste especially designed for sensitive teeth. These toothpastes usually use a flouride compound to de-sensitize your teeth. There are several different ones on the market Also, if you discuss your plans with your dentist, they may able to provide you with a professional flouride treatment that can be applied at home.

One other option is available if you have tried the tooth whiteners and find that they are too uncomfortable. You can use one of the available tooth whitening toothpastes, which will clean your teeth with a mild abrasive rather than bleach them. These tooth whitening toothpastes do not use bleach, so you should not experience any added sensitivity, but they will not whiten your teeth as much as bleaching.

As your can see, if you have sensitive teeth, the tooth whitening process may take longer and require a little extra effort, but you should be able to achieve the same results in the end: a whiter, brighter smile.