A Look at Tooth Whitening at Home

Through the glamour of television and the big screen you see it everywhere. The camera zooms in on the face of the nightly co-anchor or the television star flashes back that huge smile. There, shining in its entire splendor is that gorgeous, resilient, and incredibly white smile.

At that point you become increasingly self-conscious of your own smile and think to yourself how nice it would be to regain its luster. Although those within the media have probably had their teeth treated professionally, now, within the comfort of your home, you too will be able to add back lost gleam by performing tooth whitening at home.

What is Tooth Whitening?

Tooth whitening at home is a 10 to 14 day process that involves the use of a whitening gel and mouthpieces that are molded over the individual's upper and lower rows of teeth. This dental treatment has been shown to be effective in removing stains that have accumulated over the years caused by smoking, coffee, tea, soda, and just through the natural aging process.

The only side effect of this tooth whitening at home process has been reports of teeth being temporarily sensitive to hot and cold foods and liquids. This process has been proven to be completely safe and does not adversely affect the tooth itself. It is strongly suggested that prior to conducting tooth whitening at home you see your dentist. This course of action would be prudent to ensure that there is no gum disease nor are there any tooth fractures.

Process

Tooth whitening at home is a straightforward process that can be accomplished by purchasing a tooth whitening kit. The simplicity of the process is that once you have followed the directions you allow the treatment to take effect overnight while you are sleeping. The kit holds a whitening paste that contains the active ingredient carbamide peroxide, which is available in different strengths. The higher the percentage of carbamide peroxide the stronger the treatment will be on your teeth.

The kit will also contain at least two moldable trays. The trays are placed in hot water for a few seconds that allows for them to become flexible. Then, placing the trays over your top and bottom rows of teeth, you mold them to fit you personally. This is done with your fingers and tongue. Next, removing the trays, you fill the reservoirs within the trays with the appropriate amount of the whitening agent.

The last step is to replace the trays back over the upper and lower rows of the teeth and allow the treatment to take place. The trays can remain in your mouth while you sleep or can be worn for two to three hours during the course of the day. Tooth whitening at home is not a permanent treatment. The treatment may last from six months to three years. Additional or touch-up treatments may be required.

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