Teeth Whitening at Home or at the Cosmetic Dentist?

Teeth whitening has become a renewed trend in recent years.  Though this desire for pearly whites has been around since the dawn of America, when men and women would swish urine in their mouths in order to have the ammonia go to work and produce the whitest whites, it has seen such a surge of interest in recent times because of a better understanding of the science behind it. 

Today shelves at drug stores and discount chains are lined with at-home whitening remedies and the internet is littered with articles about making one’s very own homemade solutions.  Furthermore, dentists are beginning to make a much larger portion of their income on cosmetic dentistry.  A big component in that is teeth whitening and bleaching.  In order to truly understand the options available, one must first understand the differences between the two terms, which are frequently and misleadingly interchanged.

A tooth bleaching is the practice of achieving hues beyond the natural color of the tooth.  In other words, after bleaching a person can have teeth whiter than he or she should naturally have.  This is done with bleaching agents – the most common one is peroxide.  Many products on the market, which are labeled as teeth whitening products, actually contain bleaching agents.  Over time, these products can produce very desirable results. 

Many websites recommend swishing peroxide several times per day for several days in a row to produce the same effects.  However, it should be noted that peroxide used in this manner excessively can lead to some serious consequences.  Discoloration of gums and the inner lining of the mouth can occur and studies are still underway to weigh the part played by peroxide in the development of DNA damage, certain cancers, and reproductive disorders.  Bleaching of the teeth can be done by a cosmetic dentist Colorado Springs for the best and safest results.

Tooth whitening on the other hand has a simpler objective.  This aims only to reproduce the natural whiteness of teeth, which is undone by staining foods and liquids.  There are many home remedies that aim to scrub away stains – such as baking soda or whitening toothpastes.  These can produce fairly decent results, but again it should be noted that overuse can have bad consequences, including damage to the enamel, which protects teeth against decay and infection.

No one has perfectly white teeth and there are things that play against a sparkling smile.  Age and genetics are two large players.  Some people are just born with whiter teeth and as we age even the whitest can fade or discolor.  Certain foods and beverages, as well as smoking and drug use can taint the teeth as well.  To avoid discoloration, use a straw when sipping staining fluids or avoid them all together.  Also avoid smoking and drug use, which not only affect the whiteness of teeth, but can also have damaging effects on mouth- and overall health.