All it really takes is a simple procedure that lightens the colour of your teeth by a few shades, treating teeth that are discoloured, stained or yellowed, giving you white teeth. You’ll be able to bring out the best version of you—the peppy, upbeat, confident you. In this article, we tell you how to whiten teeth.
How Do Teeth Become Stained?
There are two different types of stains which cause teeth discolouration: extrinsic and intrinsic stains.
Extrinsic stains exist on just the surface of your teeth, on your enamel, and are caused by the build-up of food or drink substances. These types of stains can be cleaned through simple brushing with a whitening toothpaste or through routine dental procedures such as scaling and polishing.
Intrinsic stains, however, are harder to remove. The particles that are causing these stains have penetrated through the enamel layer and affect the inner layer of the tooth, the dentin.
Sometimes extrinsic stains, if not dealt with, can penetrate deeper over time, through the layer of the enamel into the dentin layer and become intrinsic stains.
Intrinsic stains cannot be removed with regular cleaning and would require professional tooth whitening.
What Causes Teeth to Become Discoloured?
There are many reasons teeth become discoloured and start to become yellow. These include:
- Certain food or drink. Heavy consumption of substances like coffee, tea, or red wine, and especially over many years can cause teeth to get stained.
- Use of tobacco. Smoking or chewing tobacco causes teeth to discolour.
- Poor dental care. Not brushing your teeth regularly, allowing plaque to build up and leaving stains unattended to, can cause discolouration.
- Ageing. The natural process of ageing causes the enamel layer of your teeth to thin and become worn down and for the dentin layer, which is naturally yellow, to become exposed.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
There are multiple ways to go about teeth whitening, depending on the extent and colour of the discolouration.
Whitening procedures or teeth whitening products usually involve one of the two treatments: the use of bleach, or a light-activated technology, known as ‘chairside bleaching’. This may be an in-chair whitening treatment performed by a dental professional or a home whitening kit purchased in the form of mouthpieces, trays or strips prescribed by a dentist or over the counter at a pharmacy.
The teeth whitening treatments targets both the enamel and dentin layers. Bleaching agents penetrate these layers, altering them, therefore removing the stains that exist within these layers.
What is Phillips Zoom! Tooth Whitening?
Phillips Zoom! Tooth Whitening is a quick, non-invasive procedure that comprises of two processes: the application of hydrogen peroxide whitening gel and of WhiteSpeed blue Zoom LED light.
First, your gums are protected by a covering, and then the hydrogen peroxide whitening gel is applied to your teeth. This bleaching agent breaks down the stain particles present in your teeth. The WhiteSpeed blue Zoom LED light technology is then applied, accelerating the process of the particle breakdown. This application process is then repeated three times.
Solely a single session is required in order to see the desired results. With each session taking a total duration of 45 minutes—it is perfect for the time-constrained individual who seek out fast, effective treatments.
Once the treatment is complete, your dentist will apply a post-treatment gel. This would protect your enamel and reduce tooth sensitivity.
It is absolutely essential that you maintain good oral hygiene in order to maintain the effects of the teeth whitening, and prevent a repeat onset of tooth discolouration. Being aware and restricting your intake of food or drink that cause discolouration would also be helpful.
Here at Nuffield Dental, we’re always happy to have you drop by our clinic for a consultation to determine the teeth whitening treatment that works best for you.
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