Tooth Whitening
Dazzling – let's talk teeth!
Now your skin probably looks better than ever – clean, fresh and pimple-free – but open your mouth and that yellow bite is not going to attract intimacy.
Toothbrush and dental floss
Good oral hygiene requires two necessary tools – a toothbrush and dental floss. The toothbrush is used to remove plaque, the bacteria that cause cavities and gingivitis. The dental floss removes food particles and bacteria that are caught between the teeth.
When you choose a toothbrush, you should choose one that is medium or soft. Many dentists recommend avoiding hard toothbrushes since they put too much wear on tooth enamel and gums. A toothbrush with an angled brush and longer bristles in front works well when reaching the teeth farthest back in the mouth. It does not make any difference if you brush with upwards and downwards or sideways strokes. Both ways are just as effective in removing plaque from teeth and gums.
Use toothpaste when you brush your teeth. It contains germ-killing substances and fluoride which protects the enamel from attack. If you are out of toothpaste, brush anyway, since it is the actual brushing that removes plaque. Don't push too hard, since this can damage the gums. Change your toothbrush often. A worn-out toothbrush gets hard and can damage the gums and enamel.
Polishing and bleaching
In the hunt for the perfect white teeth, there are two different methods to get the desired results: polishing and bleaching. Polishing removes the surface stains from coffee, tea, red wine, etc, but to get rid of that lasting yellow shade bleaching is required.
Polishing is done at the dentist, among other things by using what is called Air Flow, where the teeth are blasted white with the help of water and salt. This method is completely harmless and costs about SEK 600. The result remains for about 6 - 12 months.
An alternative to polishing is Natural White. These products effectively dissolve the phenol compounds from the thin protein surface of the tooth so that the discolouration disappears. The products contain no peroxide, and therefore the result is limited to removing discolouration. The tooth's original colour does not change.
Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening however gives a longer-lasting result, and does not only remove the surface stains. During recent years, the demand for this treatment has increased enormously. This could be because a white row of teeth is the sign of health, hygiene – and a good economy.
Teeth can be bleached in two ways – at home and at the dentist.
To be able to bleach teeth at home, you must have an individually adapted tray that you can have made at the dentist. This tray is then filled with a gel that contains the bleaching substance carbamide peroxide. You sleep with the tray during 3 – 8 nights, while your teeth gradually become whiter. The result stays between three to five years. After this you can bleach them again with the same tray (but you have to purchase new gel). The tray and gel cost between Euro 200 and Euro 450.
You can also purchase a tray in the stores or through a TV-shop. The tray is often "one size fits all" and contains a gel that is brushed onto the teeth. This gel is easily rinsed away by saliva and lands up sooner or later in your stomach. Since carbamide peroxide is an oxidant, it has been disputed that it could contain a risk for cancer or perhaps affects the genetic make-up. This is the most controversial question for all forms of tooth bleaching (not polishing), but especially bleaching methods where you can swallow the agent. Research is being conducted on this matter from several directions, but the long-term effects of bleaching the teeth are not yet known. Caution is recommended.
The absolute best and safest treatment to bleach the teeth is done at the dentist. In principle, three methods are discussed:
1. For the first, the dentist can put a thin layer of porcelain over the existing enamel. The teeth in other words are not actually bleached. This treatment is very expensive, approximately Euro 450 - Euro 600 per tooth. On the other hand, the result stays for 15 - 20 years. This method is often used on individual teeth which have been fixed, discoloured or root-filled.
2. The dentist can put a layer of the bleaching substance hydrogen peroxide (which is derived from carbamide peroxide) on your teeth. This is allowed to work for a while, approximately 15 minutes, before it is rinsed away. The treatment is repeated an additional 2-3 times. The results hold for 3-5 years and the entire treatment costs Euro 250 – Euro 450.
3. Lastly, you can use a method called Brite Smile, where the teeth are treated using a gel (even this contains carbamide peroxide), after which they are exposed to a bright laser light. Treatment takes approximately an hour and the result remains for two to four years. The cost is usually about Euro 700. According to several dentists, this is the best and most effective treatment.
Irregardless of which treatment you choose, there is a large risk that your teeth will be sensitive for several weeks. But it can be worth it, can't it?