In today’s society, beauty has acquired a different meaning and has become a universal principle; indeed, one of the problems that different people face is the yellowing and discoloration of the teeth. An event that inevitably happens to the teeth with age and as a result of food and drink, and depending on the type of teeth, the amount is very high for one person and less for another person. Fortunately, teeth whitening methods include quick treatments under the supervision of a dental specialist and long-term home treatments. In the following, in addition to reviewing the causes of yellowing and discoloration of teeth, we will also describe various methods of teeth whitening.
Just as all parts of the human body change with age and due to conditions and situations and lose their primary characteristics, teeth also undergo various changes, including changes in color and strength. However, the factors that cause these color changes to occur earlier and more intensely on the teeth include the following:
In general, you may think that the issue of color change only causes problems in terms of appearance and that you should ignore it. However, there are different types of discoloration, and they are not always just a simple yellowing of the tooth surface. On the other hand, depending on the type of discoloration on the tooth, there will be a different treatment method. That is why sometimes, no matter what you do, the discoloration does not go away, and you are disappointed to get rid of it because the type of discoloration differs from the treatment method you are considering.
If we want to categorize these color changes, we get three general states:
This type of color change occurs on the tooth’s outer surface and is the same yellowness and turbidity that is common in society, and they say that the tooth has turned yellow. The external discoloration is formed only on the tooth’s surface, does not damage the tooth tissue, and cannot pass through the tooth enamel. Conventional bleaching methods are very effective for this discoloration, and you can easily remove it. They also introduce home remedies for color change related to changing the exterior color of teeth.
The cause of such color change is different from the cause of external color change, and the most affected area is the tooth dentin and its inner layer. Sometimes this color change is accompanied by wear of tooth enamel, which indicates severe problems for the individual’s teeth. To fix this type of color change, you can no longer use external color change methods such as bleaching. Specialists usually use laminate veneers, luminaires, and bonding for internal teeth whitening.
With age, the surface quality of teeth decreases in different areas, both internal and external, and this causes it to be associated with age-related discoloration. In other words, this type of color change is a combination of the two types of color change, which can be seen by creating yellow and cloudy spots on the teeth. The teeth whitening method is a veneer and bonding method for color change due to aging.
For teeth whitening, you can use different methods that will provide you with the best results according to the type of discoloration of your teeth. In terms of the general classification of teeth whitening methods, they fall into two groups, one specialized under the supervision of a dentist and the other as general and home methods; each of these categories provides several ways to whiten teeth. The most important of these are:
One of the most widely used teeth whitening methods is the bleaching method, in which the dentist uses a special gel with peroxide in its composition to whiten the teeth. In order to increase the effectiveness and the speed of the operational process of the gel, laser beams are also used in this method. Because the laser rays help increase the gel’s penetration and cause the spots to dissolve faster. After a specific time, the dentist removes the previous layer of gel from the surface of the teeth and places another layer of gel on them.
The teeth whitening process with the bleaching method is done in several steps, but these steps are usually done in less than an hour and in one visit to the doctor’s office.
One of the excellent features of the bleaching method is its speed and high whitening rate. Of course, while using this method, you must observe all the things that lead to the yellowing of the teeth. Also, remember that teeth are more sensitive to yellowing after bleaching.
The difference between bleaching without a laser and a laser is that it is done faster and creates a higher degree of whiteness on the teeth. Some people use peroxide gel at home, which is a mistake regardless of tooth sensitivity, but laser bleaching cannot be performed at home.
Related: ‘What To Do With Tooth Sensitivity“
What type of laser to use for laser bleaching is determined by the dentist according to the condition of the individual’s teeth.
The bleaching method is a teeth whitening method that is done quickly and without risk; it has good durability, and if the following care is followed, the tooth will not be sensitive, and the tooth enamel will not be damaged.
In the tooth lamination method, the tooth’s front surface is covered with the help of thin ceramic layers that are specially used for dentistry. The ceramic layers are attached to the tooth’s front surface and cover the defects on the tooth, such as discoloration, darkness, cracks, chapped lips, etc. This method does not remove the yellowness of the teeth or darkness and only hides it. Sometimes the tooth may get an infection from the inside, and due to this coating on the tooth’s surface, you may not notice it. The cost of this method is high, and it is more suitable for changing the inner color of the teeth.
Almost like the laminate veneer method, this method hides the color and defects of the tooth by creating a surface coating on the surface of the tooth. In teeth whitening, composite bonding uses a composite resin with the same color as the teeth instead of the ceramic layer. This resin makes all the teeth look the same color and white. Using the bonding method is suitable for internal and external color changes due to aging, and you can whiten your teeth with its help.
As the advantages of the bonding method, it is inexpensive and can be done in one step of going to the dentist.
Regarding the disadvantages of this method, you should also know that it does not have a very long lifespan, its vulnerability is higher than other methods, and the tooth becomes discolored and discolored earlier than other methods.
Dental crowns cover the teeth’ defects, such as cracks, discoloration, and pale lips. This method is considered one of the most suitable covering methods for teeth, in which the surface of the teeth is covered using a protective and ceramic coating made of the color of the teeth. This teeth whitening method is better than the veneer laminate and bonding method. It performs better, but the cost of this method is higher than the bonding cost. On the other hand, these ceramics are vulnerable and must be taken care of. You should also avoid eating hard foods and fruits.
Usually, dental veneers are used when a restoration such as nerve extraction has been done on the tooth because, after nerve extraction, the tooth has weakened and needs a veneer to increase its life. It has also caused the interior color of the tooth to change.
Different methods to whiten teeth quickly should be used according to the type of tooth, its sensitivity, and what the dentist detects during the examination.
Unprofessional and unscientific measures for teeth whitening, including the use of tooth whitening toothpaste, strips, tooth whitening varnish, etc., not only do not have a positive effect but, in many cases, cause damage to tooth enamel and supporting tissues. Teeth whitening may be needed after orthodontic procedures, including rapid orthodontics, due to the accumulation of dental plaque on the teeth.
However, in addition to the specialized methods that can be used for teeth whitening by visiting a dentist, There are also home remedies you can use to whiten your teeth. Of course, these methods require patience and more time to get the correct result. Among these methods, the following can be mentioned:
In addition, the mentioned compounds have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This ensures that your teeth are whitened, and your gums are kept healthy.
Oral and dental hygiene plays a vital role in the general health of every person at any age. In order to live a healthy and comfortable life, you must have healthy teeth. Suppose you do not clean the infectious deposits on the surface of the teeth, such as plaque, tartar, paint, stains, and other harmful factors.
In that case, these materials become a ready and prone bed for infection, resulting in the problem of loose teeth and gums. It occurs and will eventually lead to the loss of teeth.
Doctors do not recommend teeth whitening to children under the age of 16. Since the pulp chamber (a large cavity located in the central part of the anatomical crown and usually more significant than the pulp cavity of the root) is still developing until this age, whitening teeth under the age of 16 can damage the pulp and lead to inflammation.
If you plan to whiten your teeth, you should do this procedure before using any teeth whitening method, such as restoration, veneer, veneer, bonding or bridge.
If smokers continue to smoke during the teeth whitening , they will not get good results.
Teeth whitening can be sensitive to the gums, and if you have gum disease, your doctor should advise you not to use the whitening method until the problems have healed.
It is recommended that patients with dental cavities treat the cavities before performing this procedure. When teeth whitening is done without filling the cavity, the whitening solutions penetrate the inner parts of the teeth and cause weakness and irritability. For this reason, it is essential to treat gum and tooth enamel problems before teeth whitening.
Teeth whitening does not give good results on exposed roots because these roots do not have an enamel coating. People with sensitive teeth should consult a doctor before teeth whitening. Patients allergic to peroxide, commonly known as a whitening agent, should avoid whitening their teeth. Therefore, avoiding teeth whitening while having untreated cavities or gum problems is essential.
Bad eating habits and aging can cause yellow teeth or many things we do daily, such as drinking coffee and tea, smoking, drinking juices, and colored drinks, and eating spicy foods—the yellowing of the teeth effects. There are different methods to remove yellow teeth and teeth whitening.
In this article, we tried to tell you everything you need about yellowing teeth and medical and home teeth whitening methods. We hope this article was helpful for you and that you can make your teeth white and beautiful by using these solutions and teeth-whitening methods.
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Dr. Majid Zohrabi started treating his patients in Dubai in 2022 and continues his activities in private medical centers in the UAE.