Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Whiter Teeth For A More Beautiful You

Do you ever wonder if your teeth are as white as they are some years ago? How often do you stare in front of the mirror and check if your teeth have maintained the white pearly shine your friends used to admire?

Our teeth usually turn yellow with time. This color change can make us look older and less attractive. What causes the change in the color of our dentition? The passing of time wears away the colorless protective outer layer of our teeth called the enamel. The thinning of the enamel causes the yellow dentin to show through. The dentin is the yellowish innermost layer of the teeth following the enamel. Acidic saliva accentuates the thinning of the enamel making it more porous. Taking in more sugary foods can turn the saliva more acidic. The more sugar found in the oral cavity, the more acid is formed by the resident bacteria.

Some beverages particularly coffee, cola, tea and red wine can stain the enamel. Residues from these beverages can seep through the enamel and can cause dental staining. Even residues from berries can result into dental staining as well. Smoking is also found to cause teeth discoloration and so are tartar deposits.

Here are some of the options you have if you want to have pearly white teeth.

1. The most popular whitening procedure is power bleaching or chairside bleaching. This procedure is done by your dentist at the dental office. The procedure is done by applying a whitening gel to your teeth. The whitening gel contains 20 to 35 percent hydrogen peroxide. Your dentist then activates the bleaching agent by using a powerful light source. Yellowish and brown stains often respond more favorably with this type of whitening procedure although gray stains do not have high positive response with this type of treatment. Unlikely candidates for power bleaching are people with hypersensitive teeth and mouth tissues. With power bleaching, you can enjoy between 1 to 3 years of white pearly teeth.

2. You can have whiter teeth by using home bleaching or nightguard bleaching. This type of procedure can by done at home with the help of your dentist. Your dentist will take a dental impression of both your upper and lower teeth. From this dental impression, he will fabricate molds or trays that resemble an athlete's mouth guard. You will then apply whitening solutions to the trays. Your dentist will usually ask you to wear the mouth guard one to two hours a day or overnight or depending on how sensitive you are to the procedure. Your dentist will provide you a supply of the whitening solution. This type of whitening solution is usually a less concentrated form of the in-office bleaching solution. It will take about two weeks or more for the treatment to be completed. The duration of the treatment takes longer especially when the patient's teeth have turned yellow because of tobacco stain. Home bleached teeth usually last up to 3 years similar with power bleaching and the molds can be re-used later for touch-ups.

3. The simplest and easiest way to have whiter teeth is by using whitening toothpastes. These types of toothpastes contain chemical or polishing agents that remove surface stains from the teeth. Although this is the easiest way to have whiter teeth, this type of treatment doesn't provide the same good results that power bleaching and home bleaching offer.

You may be tempted to buy over the counter bleaching kits that claim good results. You should be aware that many of these products have not been approved by the American Dental Association and most do not meet the criteria for safety and effectiveness. Some one-size-fits-all mouth trays can allow the bleaching agents to escape to the gums and may cause irritation. It is better to ask for your dentist's help and opinion than encounter unwanted results later on.

Michael Russell Your Independent Dental guide

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Michael Russell - EzineArticles Expert Author

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Saturday, March 8, 2008

Teeth Whitening - Nurse's Four Ways To Whiten Or Bleach Your Teeth And What To Look Out For!

If you're concerned about stains on your teeth there are four main methods available today for whitening the teeth. I'm going to explain the various methods and how well they work. These teeth whitening and bleaching methods include chairside bleaching or 'power bleaching', professional dispensed bleaching solutions, over-the-counter, TV, and Internet products and whitening toothpastes.

1. Power bleaching or also called chair-side bleaching. A dentist applies a gel or rubber shield to protect the gums and oral tissues and then puts bleach on the teeth. Make sure to ask if the dental bleaching agents the dentist uses has the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal. Sometimes a light or a laser may be used to help the bleach work better. However there aren't any products that use lasers that are accepted by the ADA at this writing. It may take more than one visit for this bleaching treatment. You'll be able to see the results right away, usually about five shades or so brighter. This treatment is supposed to work very well on a wide range of stains. However if your teeth are sensitive or even if they are not, there can be a range of pain experienced during and/or after the procedure. Make sure to do some research before you proceed. This type of dental whitening can be expensive, so make sure to have your dentist fully explain how much it will cost and what results you can expect.

2. Professionally dispensed bleaching solutions. Your dentist can sell you some teeth of these bleaching products for use at home. They usually contain peroxides that bleach the tooth enamel. Most of these products come in a gel form. The gel is placed in a mouth guard or tray that fits snugly inside the mouth around your teeth. How long you allow the gel to work depends on what results you want and your sensitivity to the bleaching gel. Some of these gel products are used for two times a day for about two weeks, and some of the other products are used overnight for one or two weeks. They may or may not help the many different types of staining. It's possible your teeth may turn about five to six shades whiter/brighter with long-lasting results. However the long term effects of the bleach on your sensitive gum tissue and from the possible absorbency into the oral and other bodily tissues is not known.

3. The over-the-counter, TV, and Internet products. These tooth whitening products are for use in your home and include teeth whitening strips, paint-on tooth products, and bleaching gels and trays. They use a lower volume of peroxide. You wear it throughout the day and apply some of it at night just before bedtime. They will have very limited results if you haven't had the stains removed by a dentist first. But they're supposed to help prolong the results you receive from stain removal by a dental professional. They are also supposed to help if the staining is due to age and/or certain foods. Your teeth may turn about two or more shades brighter for up to five months or so.

4. Tooth whitening toothpastes. All toothpastes on the market will help remove surface stain by the action of mild abrasives. Some whitening toothpastes have special polishing agents that remove even more of the stains. These products do not bleach or change the color of teeth; they help some surface stains only. You may see temporary results with some claims your teeth will be one to two shades brighter.

These are the four main methods for whitening the teeth. So before you use any tooth whitening products, have a talk with your dentist first. Your dentist may help you decide which method is the best one for you based on the type of stains that are on your teeth. Remember that not all products will work the same way on all people. And it's important to keep in mind that tooth whitening by itself does not make your mouth healthier and can actually create some dental or oral problems for you.

For more info on tooth whitening products and teeth whitening treatment go to http://www.Tooth-Whitening-Tips.com a nurse's website specializing in teeth whitening tips, treatments, natural treatments, gels, kits and systems including info on what to look out for and laser tooth whitening

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Helen_Hecker

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Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Teeth Whitening Might Work To Help Quit Smoking

In this article we are not saying that teeth whitening is one of the next fads to help you quit smoking but customers who have had laser teeth whitening treatment and see the benefits of having white teeth then think twice about continuing their smoking habit.

Laser teeth whitening is undertaken in salons where clients have a gum dam applied to protect their gums and then a stain removing gel is applied before the laser light is activated. The gel then gains deep in to the enamel removing the staining and this is all done just under one hour. Typically the teeth are lightened by 6-8 shades and the treatment can last up to 18 months depending on how and when the staining that caused the problem is then minimized otherwise the benefit is decreased.

Nicotine is not the only bad habit to cause staining to the enamel but caffeine, red wine, gravy and sauces will also stain the teeth but like many things it will depend on the frequency of usage but with such a simple and time effective treatment available for your teeth then no need to worry. Laser teeth whitening is also known as zoom whitening which is a commonly used name in the USA and even the Americans have developed Zoom 2 teeth whitening which is essentially the same but early adopters will want to try new names and ideas.

The name aside laser teeth whitening is a huge growth industry and with added benefits like helping clients to quit smoking then no wonder customers are prepared to travel to get the treatment.

For further information on teeth whitening visit http://www.whiteteethcompany.co.uk or one of the many location across Bucks, Beds, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire we offer teeth whitening http://www.whiteteethcompany.co.uk/laser_teeth_whitening_locations.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jay_Scott_Edwards

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Monday, March 3, 2008

Laser Bleaching For Whiter Teeth

If you only dreamed of flashing killer smiles everywhere you go but you are hindered by your dull, yellow teeth, laser teeth whitening could be the solution to make your dreams come true.

Bleaching is a teeth whitening procedure which involves putting a strong whitening solution on your teeth and activating the solution by shining a laser light on it, and must be done in the dentist's office and is known to make your teeth whiter up to several shades more. However it requires a patient to make as many as three visits to the dental clinic and is quite expensive, too. A patient has to shell out as much as $400 to $1,000 to pay for the treatment to get the results desired.

Once laser bleaching results to the desired whiteness of your teeth, you need to have touch ups or maintenance about every six months to one year. If you also continue smoking, taking in coffee, tea and other food and drinks that can leave stains on your teeth, your teeth will gradually turn dark again.

Laser teeth whitening whitens your teeth several shades, and you can get quicker results compared to other procedures like using whitening toothpastes or home whitening kits. However, you have to consult a dentist to assess your teeth and evaluate if you are suitable for the treatment.

The procedure takes only about one hour to perform. It is not hard to avail of laser teeth whitening because almost every dentist anywhere is offering this service to meet the growing demands of customers everywhere. Find a local dentist in your area who can perform a procedure for you to get a perfectly white set of teeth. You will not regret having your teeth whitened.

For more information about Laser Teeth Whitening, feel free to visit us at: http://www.teeth-whitening-zone.com/Laser-Teeth-Whitening.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arturo_Ronzon

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