White Teeth
Teeth whitening products are widely required by consumers to remove stains from teeth and make them more white and showy.
The impeccable smile and healthy white teeth are two aesthetic standards that are as appreciated as they are coveted. However, although they are often advertised as "miracle" products, dental whiteners do not always confer the much desired whiteness effect.
Let's start by saying that there are different types of whitening products for teeth, which have their own "whitening" effect in different ways. These products can be subdivided substantially into two large groups: professional whiteners and do-it-yourself or household whiteners, which include a vast range of natural products and remedies.
Below, the main features of both these types of tooth whitening products will be briefly described.
Professional whiteners
Professional whiteners are used exclusively by the dentist. These are highly concentrated chemical bleaching agents, enhanced by specific lamps that favor in-depth action (eg laser lamps to whiten teeth).
In this category, the dental whitening product par excellence is a gel based on hydrogen peroxide (35-38%). The high cost of this type of tooth whitening (bleaching) - ranging from € 300 to € 600 - is an important limit to undergo treatment. The bleaching effect of the products used in a bleaching session is however surprising.
Another whitening product for teeth used in the professional field is baking soda . This technique - known as air-polishing - exploits the cleaning action of a spray of air, water and sodium bicarbonate that, directed on the surface of the teeth with a certain pressure, polishes and whitens the teeth by means of a superficial and anti abrasive action -plate.
The cost of these treatments is certainly higher than that of natural remedies or home treatments, however, the result is clearly superior. In fact, a bleaching session at the dentist leaves (literally) the sign: the teeth obviously appear more shiny, white and bright. The whiteness effect of professional whitening products is however temporary. In general, the duration of professional bleaching does not exceed 2 years. In this regard, to prolong the bleaching effect on the teeth, proper dental hygiene and the correction of incorrect behavioral habits (eg smoking, drinking lots of coffee or caffeinated substances and chewing licorice or tobacco) is essential.
Do-it-yourself whiteners
Products and natural remedies for homemade tooth whitening
Do-it-yourself whiteners have a clearly lower cost than professional whitening substances, but their effectiveness is lower. Below are the most commonly used traditional whitening products.
Stripes (adhesive strips)
The duration of the treatment is 2 weeks and has the following advantages:
- Low risk of dentinal hypersensitivity.
- Immediate "medium-low" whitening efficacy.
- Long-term visible effects.
Carbamide peroxide (gel)
This product, although it can be used directly by the patient, should only be used if prescribed by the dentist. The whitening efficacy is high, comparable to professional whitening
Carbamide peroxide must be applied to the teeth using special customized silicone soft masks (which perfectly reproduce the patient's dental arch)
Abrasive toothpastes
In truth, the effectiveness of these products is poor, since the whitening action is limited to the removal of the surface dental stains. Furthermore, an excessive use of these whitening products can wear out dental enamel, to the point of favoring the formation of yellow teeth. As if this were not enough, abrasive toothpastes can increase the risk of dental hypersensitivity, tooth decay and pulpitis.
Whitening pen for teeth
The whitening substances used inside these pens are carbamide peroxide or urea peroxide. Some whitening pens are also formulated with arctic lichen, hydroxyapatite and potassium chloride (indicated for sensitive teeth)
The whitening effect is visible after a couple of days and the treatment lasts about two weeks.
Kit for teeth whitening with LED light
Specially available kits for teeth whitening with LEDs can be found on the market at home.
These kits consist of an instrument capable of emitting LED light equipped with a special mask that must be inserted into the mouth and one or more bleaching gels.
The use of these kits is simple: the whitening gel must be placed on the mask of the instrument which, afterwards, must be inserted into the mouth, taking care to make both the mask and the gel adhere to all the teeth. After that, the LED lamp of the instrument must be activated using the appropriate button. The LED light stays on for a certain period of time (generally from 2-3 up to 10 minutes depending on the type of appliance used), at the end of which the device must be extracted from the mouth.
Before rinsing the mouth with plenty of water, the gel should be left on the teeth for another 5-10 minutes so that it can fully perform its whitening action (the time interval is usually specified by the manufacturer).
Depending on the kit used, the procedure must be repeated two or three times a day for at least fourteen days.
This type of whitening product, according to many, allows to obtain an optimal result (according to some, even comparable to that obtained with professional whiteners) without any side effect. However, before resorting to the use of these kits, the preventive consultation with the specialist is always good.
Sodium bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate is also used in do-it-yourself whitening products, as well as being added to industrially produced toothpastes.
The whitening activity of this product is exercised by removing the stains from the teeth and making them brighter and more shiny through an abrasive action.
Baking soda, added to some lemon drops, should be applied to the teeth like a toothpaste (do-it-yourself natural remedy).
However, excessive use of this product can corrode dental enamel, promote gingival bleeding, increase tooth sensitivity and the risk of tooth decay and pulpitis (due to alteration of oral pH).
For more information: Sodium bicarbonate to whiten teeth
Natural remedies
There are many natural remedies available for whitening teeth. In addition to baking soda, the best known is certainly sage. To take advantage of the whitening effect of this whitening product, it is advisable to rub the fresh leaves directly on the teeth. In doing so, the teeth will look whiter and the breath fresher.
Other natural remedies used as tooth whiteners are malic acid, crushed and applied strawberry pulp on the teeth, apples, celery, carrots, lemon and ash (for more information: Natural Teeth Whitening).
Please note
Before proceeding with any type of dental whitening treatment (even natural), the dentist's advice is strongly recommended, in order to ascertain the absence of contraindications (caries, oral cavity pathologies or dental hypersensitivity).
Conclusions
The tooth whitening products currently available are many and can meet the most varied needs.
Therefore, every person who wants whiter teeth can decide which treatment or whitening product is best suited to their needs. Here is an example: the typically yellow teeth of an avid smoker, as well as the stained teeth of coffee drinkers, require more aggressive whitening products, because the ocher patina that surrounds the teeth is difficult to remove using natural whitening substances or do-it-yourself you.
However, before resorting to the use of teeth whitening products, it is always good to consult your dentist, in order to exclude the presence of any pathologies or contraindications to the treatment in question.
