Teeth whitening: The most effective tips and techniques to achieve a truely beautiful white smile

 

The prestigious dentist Iván Malagón makes an exhaustive analysis of an increasingly fashionable topic: tooth whitening. Discover the most effective and safe techniques to achieve a truly beautiful white smile.

Having a beautiful and radiant smile is an aspiration that is increasingly in demand, and not only among the rich and famous. Many people go to the dentist not only to solve dental problems, but also to improve the aesthetics of their teeth and give them a sparkling white.

For some time now it has been strange not to know anyone who has undergone a teeth whitening session. There are many topics on the subject: from "I don't want to have very white teeth because it seems unnatural" to "whitening makes you lose your teeth sooner". There are many who decide to undergo new techniques to make their teeth look younger .

We may have numerous opinions regarding the general aesthetics of the American population, but there is no doubt that white and correctly aligned teeth are necessary characteristics to have a pleasant general aesthetic.

According to a survey by the American Society of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD):

• More than 92% of adults highlight that an attractive smile constitutes an important social resource.
• 88% remember someone who has a particularly attractive smile.
• 85% agree that an unattractive smile does not attract people of the opposite sex .
• 74% agree that an unattractive smile can decrease the chances of professional success.

According to the prestigious dentist Iván Malagón , white but natural teeth represent freshness, youth and attractiveness: "since the beginning of time, the desire for beauty, aesthetic and erotic appeal combined with a youthful appearance, has been the aspiration of all kinds in any culture. A white set of teeth, within a few margins of naturalness and harmony with the rest of the mouth and face, is an important social resource and a great business card" .

A curiosity: the first whitening/cleansing toothpaste dates back to Egyptian times, more than 5,000 years ago, and was prepared with a base of powdered salt, pepper, mint leaves, flowers, ox claws and egg shells, although it was not until 1896 that the classic tubes of pasta began to be marketed toothpaste.

Why do teeth darken?

You eat a balanced diet, you brush your teeth several times a day and yet it seems that your enamel does not stop darkening, why?

The color of the teeth presents a very wide range of shades, which is determined, like the color of the skin or the hair, by genetic inheritance . The color is given by the shade of the core of the tooth, or dentin, which never varies, and by the enamel, whose transparency and ability to reflect light give the tooth its shade. The color of the enamel can be darkened by intrinsic or extrinsic causes , and it can affect a single tooth, several or all of them.

The most common intrinsic causes are internal bleeding, deposits of particles inside the enamel, structural damage to the tooth, genetics, age, the effect of high levels of fluoride or specific antibiotics during tooth development. On the other hand, extrinsic stains come from the outside of the tooth and are the ones that most commonly affect their color. Among its most recurrent causes, the effect on the tooth enamel of certain beverages, such as wine, coffee, tea, some foods and tobacco, stand out.

The important thing, in any case, is to analyze the reason for this discoloration and, from there, find the best solution.

An oxidation, the secret of whitening dental products

We are used to seeing "platinum blondes", with hair bleached with hydrogen peroxide... Well, this same compound is one of the most used to whiten teeth, although it attracts attention, and that is hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) , hydrogen peroxide, is capable of filtering through the enamel of the teeth to "oxidize" the dentin, which translates into whitening "from within" the teeth.

The color that the teeth will acquire after the whitening treatment depends largely on the original tone and the causes of the darkening. After being whitened, the teeth will have a lighter shade, but always depending on the original color of the tooth. That is, the natural color cannot be changed, only lightened.

Dentists have a wide range of colors, so the patient can get a very rough idea of ​​what the final result of the treatment will be.

One important thing to keep in mind is that if the staining is superficial, it can be removed with a simple oral cleaning .

Is teeth whitening safe?

According to the doctor, it is proven that these methods are safe and effective , they do not produce adverse effects on the teeth or on the gums, as long as the process is controlled by a specialist. A classic and practically unimportant effect is the possibility that the patient suffers some sensitivity when eating certain very cold or hot foods after treatment, but it usually disappears after 48 hours and stops completely when the treatment is finished.

Whitening at home or in consultation?

There are toothpastes, gels and rinses that whiten teeth, but the results will never be as good as professional whitening . This method has good immediate results, although it does not last long, since more than removing the deepest stains, what it does is cover them.

Hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide are the two most commonly used substances for tooth whitening.

One of the most common methods of teeth whitening is the one that combines consultation with the dentist and treatment at home.. In the consultation, the dentist polishes the teeth to remove impurities. Then apply a hydrogen peroxide gel. This substance is very abrasive, and it should always be the dentist who applies it to avoid damage to the teeth and gums.

The dentist will have previously taken a plastic mold of the patient's teeth for use, with a carbamide peroxide filler, for several hours a day and about four weeks. The treatment ends with a new polishing at the dentist's office and an application of fluoride whose mission is to strengthen the enamel.

The fastest whitening are those that are performed in consultation and consist of covering the teeth with hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, depending on the case. The whitener is activated with polymerizing light, laser or plasma arc.

How long does the whitening effect last?

The new whiteness of the teeth does not last forever and it is advisable to undergo a "reminder" treatment once a year , similar to that used for the initial whitening.

However, when the teeth whitening treatment is perfectly carried out, the complex pigment molecules that have darkened the enamel and dentin are completely removed. The duration of its effect depends on numerous factors, for example, which technique was chosen, the person's eating habits, whether they are a smoker or not... Generally, we can say that tooth whitening is a treatment that lasts a long time. between 1 and 3 years . It is important to note that if the patient follows a very simple maintenance protocol, teeth whitening can last much longer.