Teeth Whitening: What Works, What Doesn’t
A lot is being written about teeth whitening on the internet. Many of those things are true, and many others go from inaccurate to merely irresponsible. In this article, we plan to address teeth whitening: What works and what doesn’t.
Yellow teeth
Your teeth can lose their pearly white shine because of everyday use. From drinking beverages with a dark color such as tea, coffee, sodas to chewing any kind of food. Let us explain: The reason teeth turn yellow is because of how thick or thin the enamel in the tooth is.
The thicker the enamel, the more pearly white teeth, because the more it will cover the dentin (which is yellow and just below your enamel). So aging, genetics and everyday use can wear out your enamel, making it thinner, and in turn making your dentin start to show a bit more.
Although it might sound shocking, it’s completely normal and can be easily taken care of. Good dental health that encompasses the adequate technique of brushing your teeth, using mouthwash, flossing, and visits to the dentist will do wonders to keep your teeth healthy and as white as possible.
Teeth whitening methods
- The use of a bleaching product that penetrates through the enamel and bleaches the yellowy dentin.
- The use of abrasive methods that remove the superficial stains on the surface of the enamel.
The latter is to be used with care and consideration because the use of chemicals that produce a long-lasting and effective whitening should be recommended by dental professionals.
The basis of using abrasive based whitening comes with a problem: It only works on superficial stains and the chemicals won’t touch the dentin below the enamel. Incorrect application of these substances can result in gum disease.