TEETH CLEANING & WHITENING

When contemporary peroxide-based teeth whitening got under way in the early 1990s, it was limited to custom-made bleaching tray treatments that were only available at dental offices. These whiteners set off what has come to be known as the “Smile Revolution,” and today dozens of whitening options are available for every budget and temperament — whether professionally-dispensed, store-bought or sold on the Internet. Many teeth-whiteners are pre-mixed and ready to use; others call for mixing at home.

There is a widespread consensus that dentist-dispensed whitening trays used as directed, can be even more successful than in-office bleaching over the long haul. One key reason is their ongoing use, combined with the fact that small amounts of bleach remain within the tooth structure for up to 36 hours. When a new dose of bleach is applied to a tooth retaining the previous day's peroxide, its effect is more pronounced.

 

Advantages of At-Home Teeth Whitening

• Long-term results: Dental professionals agree that the only means of maintaining your whitened teeth is with at-home bleaching products, repeated on a regular basis — preferably every four to six months. Lately, however, many dentists are advising patients with very dark-stained or tetracycline-affected teeth to continue home bleaching over a period of months (or up to a year) in order to achieve optimal results. And interestingly, the newest teeth whitening strips on the consumer market are intended for five-minute use on an everyday basis — like brushing or flossing.
• Convenience: Home whitening can be done at any time of the day or night, for short or extended periods.
• Portability: At-home can be used on-the-go or at the office.
• Cost: Cost is less than half of in office bleaching

At-Home Whitening Considerations

• The stronger the peroxide formula, the more rapid its effect; the weaker the formula, the longer it can safely remain on the teeth. A low-percentage bleach used overnight every night of the week will achieve approximately the same results as a high percentage “day-bleach“ that is kept on the teeth one hour per day for seven days.
• The optimal time to begin at-home whitening is soon after a dental hygienist's prophylactic cleaning. This procedure removes the surface layer of plaque and grime that otherwise hinders bleaching efforts.
• Dentists and oral care companies urge brushing and flossing the teeth just prior to any form of at-home or on-the-go whitening.
• For best results, food or beverages (excluding water) should not be consumed for a couple of hours after whitening.

Dentist-Dispensed Take-Home Whitening Trays

According to dental professionals, the best bleaching results are achieved with dentist-dispensed take-home kits — particularly those that are used over extended periods. These kits contain higher percentages of bleach than over-the-counter kits and typically consist of:

• Custom-fitted application trays fabricated from a flexible plastic material.
  
  • They help ensure that the bleach stays in contact with the teeth for maximum whitening.
  • They help prevent saliva from coming into contact with the bleaching agent (which can dilute its strength).
  • They minimize the amount of bleach that can dribble onto (and potentially irritate) the gums.
• Bleaching compounds are either pre-loaded into the trays or stored in syringes and added to the trays just before use. Generally, enough gel is provided for one two-week treatment per year, plus one- or two-day touch-ups every four to six months.