Whitening is a highly popular cosmetic treatment to enhance one’s smile. It provides an effective and safe method of eliminating stains from teeth while brightening them further.
Professional bleaching uses custom-fitted trays filled with whitening gel to break down chromogens (color compounds) found in tooth enamel, thus lightening its color and breaking up any chromogens (color compounds) present. The effects may last anywhere from three months up to three years depending on one’s habits.
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1. Improved Oral Health
Teeth whitening removes stains from the tooth enamel, the outermost layer of your teeth. Many medications and dark liquids stain your enamel; smoking and poor dental hygiene also contribute to staining. To achieve the best results, consider seeing a teeth whitening dentist.
After receiving professional whitening treatments, your teeth will look brighter and free of stains that cause gum disease, cavities and other oral health issues. Patients who practice good oral hygiene can extend these results for months or years with proper maintenance practices.
As having healthy teeth can boost both your self-confidence and appearance in both personal and professional contexts, having great teeth can also enhance both. People with bright white smiles tend to be seen as more trustworthy and competent – this may lead to more relationships, dating opportunities and job advancements whereas unhappy individuals may shy away from engaging in social or work activities altogether.
2. Increased Self-Confidence
A gorgeous smile can leave an indelible mark on those around you, helping create a positive first impression both personally and professionally.
Enhancing your confidence and self-esteem through professional teeth whitening will also help increase your smiles, leaving you less self-conscious about their appearance than if they had been yellow or stained.
An evaluation using the OHIP-Esthetics questionnaire to measure psychosocial impacts of dental whitening found that patients experienced immediate and lasting positive changes to their self-perception of dental aesthetics after treatment with bleach whitening – these effects lasting through one month of recalling results. Most likely due to factors that measure upward comparisons of other people’s teeth which may also apply with veneers as seen elsewhere in cosmetic dentistry treatments.
3. Less Sensitivity
One of the more frequent side effects of teeth whitening is sensitivity, which typically ranges from mild to intense sensations in one or two or four teeth, often only at certain times during a visit to your dentist’s office. These can range from mild discomfort to an excruciating throbbing ache triggered by cold drinks, brushing your teeth or touching inside cheeks or gums.
Professional teeth whitening involves working closely with your dentist to protect gums, cheeks and tongue from being exposed to whitening gel that is placed into your mouth. They will use higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide than over-the-counter products for enhanced results, with optional light activation to accelerate the whitening process.
These factors may result in less sensitivity than with over-the-counter whitening treatments; however, desensitizing toothpaste should always be used after any such whitening session in order to keep teeth and gums feeling comfortable.
4. Less Risk of Cavities
Whitening removes stains that weaken enamel and expose the inner part of teeth to bacteria, such as those caused by medications, dark liquids such as coffee or red wine, foods, tobacco use and poor dental hygiene practices.
Whitening treatments typically occur at a dentist’s office using carbamide peroxide-based gel that is activated with light or laser technology for maximum effectiveness and expedited results.
Professional teeth whitening offers many advantages over home whitening kits that take two weeks or longer. Furthermore, professional whitening procedures tend to be more cost-effective compared to home options such as bleaching kits. There may be associated risks such as tooth sensitivity and gingival irritation but this should be considered before choosing either option.
5. Better Oral Hygiene
If your teeth won’t lighten with at-home products or are stained despite regular oral hygiene, your dentist may suggest professional whitening treatment. This process involves wearing a lip retractor to keep the gums protected while applying hydrogen peroxide-containing bleaching gel onto front teeth; this chemical oxidizes stains to produce lighter teeth; additionally it may be combined with laser or LED lights that increase treatment effectiveness.
Whiter teeth increase your attractiveness and can help build confidence when socialising, whether at work or social events. Whitening treatments typically last up to a year with periodic touch up sessions; you can maintain results by eating and drinking fewer staining foods/drinks, brushing regularly and forgoing tobacco products.
