The Science Behind Teeth Whitening:

 

How it Works: 

Despite claims made by marketers of various over-the-counter products, only one chemical can cause an actual change in the color of the teeth. Hydrogen peroxide, and its close relative carbamide peroxide (which quickly breaks down into hydrogen peroxide), penetrates enamel and oxidizes dark pigmented molecules within the hard tooth structure itself. The active oxygen molecules in the whitening agent can penetrate the enamel of the teeth and react with the discolored molecules that cause discoloration. This action spreads the active oxygen molecules and whitens the entire tooth, while keeping the enamel safe. By breaking down darkly colored molecules, it literally bleaches the underlying tooth color to a whiter shade. 

The teeth whitening industry undergoes constant research and evolution. At this time, however, only peroxide chemicals show true whitening ability.

Types of Stains:

Intrinsic stains
Stains that are inside your tooth enamel are called intrinsic stains. Intrinsic staining is sometimes present even before your teeth erupt from your gums when you’re a kid. These stains can result from antibiotic use, high levels of fluoride exposure, trauma to the baby tooth or your tooth enamel growing thinner as you age. Intrinsic staining can sometimes even be genetic, according to 2014 research. 

Extrinsic stains
Extrinsic stains are on the outside of your tooth. These happen due to environmental exposure to things that leave discoloration on your tooth enamel. Coffee, artificial food colorings, and smoking can all cause this type of staining. THIS is the type of stain that we can usually lighten at an in-office whitening appointment. 

Superficial Stain Removal: 

Without a peroxide chemical, the only way a product could deliver on any teeth whitening claims is through the removal of superficial stains. In general, most people continue to accumulate dark spots on the external surface of their teeth throughout their lifetimes. We can polish away these shallow stains in a few different ways. With consistent polishing, you can prevent significant staining from continuing to build up over time. This is why visiting your dentist regularly is imperative to a healthy, white smile. Check out Warm Springs Dental for all your dental needs! 

What I use to Achieve Results 

For those who need the fastest whitening results, a professional in-office treatment is the right choice. In-office teeth whitening systems use a high strength whitening gel to produce visible color change in about  60 minutes. This is a wonderful option for anyone with a special event less than a week away or may not have time for home treatments to take effect.

These systems vary in the strength of their active ingredients and the additional use of lights or lasers. Because the active ingredient is so strong in in-office systems, a dental professional must apply a protective barrier over the gum tissues and monitor the entire process. Lights and lasers produce an accelerated whitening effect by heating and activating the carbamide gel. 

Avoid these products! 

Because peroxide chemicals are the only true bleaching agents for now, you should avoid products claiming to be peroxide-free. They will not hurt you; they just will not give effective results. This includes charcoal toothpaste, which is extremely abrasive and will damage the enamel on the outer layer of your tooth. 

We cannot stress strongly enough that you must also avoid DIY or homemade recipes for teeth whitening. These typically contain ingredients that do not have enough research supporting their safety, like activated charcoal, or those that will damage your teeth, like lemon juice.

There are many over-the-counter products that claim to whiten and do contain a peroxide chemical. However, they also do not keep the active ingredient on the teeth for an extended period to allow for change. This includes whitening mouthwash, whitening floss, and whitening chewing gum. These should be safe, but they will not produce noticeable results.

Safety is My #1 Goal: 

As long as you use an ADA-approved whitening product according to its specific instructions, you can assume teeth whitening is safe. It is always best to seek your dentist’s advice on any type of whitening option to confirm that you will not experience major side effects. The most common side effects of teeth whitening include sensitive teeth and gum irritation, but these are temporary and should subside soon after. 

 

Final Disclaimer:

With any whitening treatment, especially for the first time, comes a gamble of how much one will lighten. It is pertinent to manage expectations, as I cannot control how fast or how much one person's teeth lighten compared to another's. The best way is to try it and be happily surprised! Even at the very least of my "expected results", using only 22%, I was able to achieve 4 shades lighter on a patient who had fluorosis - which is a mottling of the enamel due to too much fluoride intake and thus makes the tooth extremely resistant to whitening in general. So if they can do it, you can too!