Introduction to Teeth Bleaching
Just like so many other parts of our bodies, teeth are never the same from one person to the next; they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and everything about them can change from day to day, or year to year, depending on how they are taken care of. The color of teeth, in particular, tend to change regularly and for just about everyone. It's a mixture of age, bacteria, foodstuffs, and other foreign toxins (such as nicotine) that cause teeth to lose their whiteness and become more yellow or gray. It's entirely possible, though, to make teeth whiter and there are a couple of ways in which this can be done. They all involve hydrogen peroxide in one form or another, which uses its oxidizing properties to whiten teeth, though it does not actually "bleach" them.
Professional Teeth Bleaching
The first method that can be taken to bleach teeth is by visiting the dentist. Dental offices offer a quick and professional tooth bleaching service. While their expertise means you can almost ensure that the treatment will benefit your teeth, the downside is that a professional teeth bleaching is expensive and not always covered by insurance. Dentists begin the procedure by painting on a small application onto the gums and sensitive parts of the mouth in order to shield them from the bleaching chemicals. Then, a high concentration of either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide is applied as a gel onto the teeth. The hydrogen seeps through the pores of a tooth's enamel (the hard outer coating) and oxidizes stains on the tooth itself. Carbamide peroxide breaks down in the mouth and leaves hydrogen peroxide by itself, which then goes to work in the same way. These bleaching agents are usually only on the teeth for only an hour or so, and the results can last for months.
At-Home Teeth Bleaching
If you don't want to deal with a dentist's office, you can always pick up an at-home teeth bleaching kit. These work the same way as treatments given in a dental office, except the concentration of bleaching agents is much longer, meaning that the length of the treatment will be longer. This is offset by the price of these kits, which is generally very reasonable. At home bleaching kits use a small mouth guard or strip that presses the bleaching agent against the tooth. They are usually worn for at least an hour a day and require a once a day use for 5-14 days. They use bleaching agents that are less than ten percent hydrogen peroxide, while professional bleaching agents are upwards of 35 percent peroxide. With at home kits, the hydrogen peroxide works the same way, and the results also last for months, typically three to seven.
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