Dr. Rachana Bhama, Smile Care, Bandra 1

Teeth whitening has become the most popular cosmetic procedure in the world for people who want to look younger, more confident and attractive. However, it's important to understand that this popular practice has its own limitations.

Whitening works if done for :

• General staining caused by exposure to colouring foods and drinks
• Mild tetracycline staining
• Mild fluorosis (mottling)
• Age related yellowing and greying.

When to say no to Whitening :

• Below16 years of age.
• Pregnant or Lactating women.
• Sensitive teeth or gums, including sensitivity associated to gingival recessions or defective fillings.
• Suffering from Gingivitis, Periodontitis, or Advanced Cavities.
• Anterior Restorations.
• Severe Tetracycline Staining.
• Severe Flurosis.
• Plastic or Peroxide Allergy.
• Professional In-Office Whitening.
• Dentist-administered in-office bleaching is the quickest and easiest method of teeth whitening.

What is In-Office Bleaching all about ?

Today, there are two primary types of in-office bleaching - light-activated bleaching and non-light activated. Light-activated procedures shade improvement in 60 minutes with the use of a laser or LED-powered light.

Non-Light Activated bleaching systems eliminate the light and use advanced bleaching gels with a variety of procedures. Non-light activating whitening can occur in a single office visit, or can be also used in combination with home whitening, for tougher stains.

Advantages : There are various advantages to in-office treatment as opposed to other forms of teeth whitening. Dentist-administered whitening procedures permit higher concentrations of bleach and can assure proper bleach contact with teeth - improving the chances of maximum whitening. In Deep Bleaching especially, a new mouth tray technology actually seals the bleaching agent to the teeth overnight, creating the highest bleach/teeth contact in any available method.

Results : The results of in-office whitening can last up to several years. Usually it lasts for about 3-4 years, although Deep Bleaching has been known to last 5+ years. Some people have reported the loss of one shade in about 6 months. However, maintaining the color is easy by using recommended toothpastes and mouthwashes.

In-Office treatments are painless for most, but may cause transient sensitivity post whitening. It would last for 2 – 3 days. This can be taken care off by using a desensitizing toothpaste or mouthwash as prescribed by the dentist.

Home Whitening :

Home Tray Whitening is tooth whitening in a kit that can be used at home. A plaster model of your teeth is made and then custom-fitted tray is created to fit each arch of your mouth. When you are home, you fill the trays with a peroxide bleaching gel and place them over your teeth. The concentration of peroxide will determine how long you wear the trays and how quickly you achieve results. Some people use the trays for 30 to 90 minutes a day over a two-week period, while others wear the trays overnight for 1 to 2 weeks. During this period, dentists check for any sensitivity to the gel.

The results obtained from such kits usually last for years. If the teeth start staining again, re-touch bleach will help restore teeth to a whiter shade.

Whitening Toothpastes :

Over-the-counter teeth whitening toothpastes are the most popular whitening products. The success of any teeth whitening technology lies primarily in the amount of time the teeth are in contact with a bleaching agent - and the concentration of the bleaching agent being used. Since toothpastes contain a very low concentration of bleach and remain on the teeth for mere minutes - or even seconds - they deliver only a small degree of visible change under ideal circumstances.

The companies that manufacture these whitening pastes do not make false claims, and consequently, promise only modest whitening results.

How do whitening toothpastes work ?

Almost all the whitening toothpastes work on the same principle. They use hydrogen peroxide or other whitening agents in very small quantities to gently remove surface stains caused by tea, coffee, wine, etc.

Whitening strips or paint-on applications :

Whitening strips or paint-on applications and are widely available at stores nationwide.

How do they work ?

Typically involve the use of a low-concentration bleaching gel. Most people with simple surface stains will experience a multi-shade change, primarily on their front teeth. While the technology of at-home, over-the-counter whitening is designed for ease-of-use; most people will find it very difficult to follow the directions exactly, particularly with regard to reaching and whitening the back teeth.