Archive for March, 2012

The procedure of whitening the teeth is generally not painful, but could cause some sensitivity around the gums. If you have sensitive teeth and gums, defective restorations, or severely receding gums, you may probably request for a milder concentration of the peroxide based bleaching gel to be used. However those that are allergic to peroxide compounds should avoid teeth whitening procedures.

It is relevant to say here that a milder take-home version of the whitening gel and a shorter in-office whitening procedure at the dentist would still help those that have sensitive teeth and gums. Your dentist would be the best person to advice you regarding the desirability of teeth whitening.

Whitening of teeth is generally safe without any risks, but it is to be realized that it could lead to damage of teeth enamel and also lead to gum irritations. It is mainly due to the fact that tooth whiteners are generally bleaching agents that could lead to increased sensitivity to cold and hot things. Also ingestion of these bleaching products could lead to symptoms like vomiting, nausea and acidity.

However teeth whitening done under expert dental supervision could lessen the side-effects and not lead to brittle or weakening of teeth. Sensitivity is a part of dental treatment for at least a short time after each procedure. It is also in your interest to reveal any history of gum, cavity and other dental disorders before a whitening procedure.

Teeth whitening form a part of cosmetic value; so many insurance companies do not cover it. The very nature and principle of insurance companies is to cover only health risks that are contingencies and uncertain and not those that are certain like the whims and fancies of people to improve their personal appearance. It is supposed that insurance companies would have to raise their premium considerably if they had to cover the growing interest of cosmetic procedures that has gathered momentum in the recent days.

Icing teeth whitening works well even to overcome genetic flaws and hydrate the teeth and aids the gum in this process. This procedure is not only economical but does not involve surgery also. Icing teeth whitening can be done at home with a home whitening kit. It has helped bring sparkling smiles to many, with more smiling leading to the pumping of positive emotions.

Icing teeth whitening is done after brushing your teeth, with the preheated dental trays being fixed on to your teeth and then loaded with icing that is just enough to cover the front teeth, as back teeth are hardly exposed when you smile. Next the excess icing is removed from the lips and other mouth parts with a cotton swab. The icing should be tested for 10 minutes before it is worn for a longer time that should not exceed 90 minutes

Tooth/teeth whitening prove great to show off that wonderful smile, but this procedure is not without side-effects and can actually damage the teeth. Studies prove that there is increased sensitivity after a teeth bleaching procedure, as prolonged exposure to bleaching agents have actually lead to damage of tooth enamel causing irritation and increased sensitivity in the teeth. There could be complete dissolution of the enamel rod prism and other complications like gum infection. In addition tooth whitening done at home could have a further complication of ingestion of the bleaching gel, followed by a burning sensation and nausea.

While professional teeth whitening aims at minimizing minimum sensitivity, good results generally depend to a large extent on the viscosity, pH, stability and the rate at which the chemical carbamide break up into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. However in general practice some teeth whitener manufacturers prefer to accelerate the procedure with adding heat to these products. These products may reduce time, but could lead to bleaching agent actually exposing the dentin; microscopic particles of the inner tooth and cause heightened sensitivity.

Laser whitening of teeth is completely safe as it utilizes a bleach solution of just 10% concentration that will not damage the tooth enamel. Teeth whitening with lasers do not use heat on the teeth, though some with sensitive teeth may experience some discomfort that would subside a few hours after the procedure. So laser teeth whitening can be performed on anyone except children that have not still got their permanent teeth.