Home Teeth Whitening Techniques By Dr. Daniel Burton, DDS At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Whiter teeth are on many people’s wish list or “to do” list for 2009, because with brighter and whiter teeth comes a more attractive smile and more self confidence. The way that many people get their teeth whitened is by visiting a dentist who can offer various tooth whitening techniques and methods. But some people prefer to take the do-it-yourself approach to home teeth whitening, and they are constantly on the lookout for new and effective home whitening techniques.

For those at-home whitening folks, there are several different approaches to home tooth whitening. You can buy a home teeth whitening kit at a drug store or other store that carries dental hygiene products, and by following the application instructions it is possible to whiten teeth in as little as 2-3 days. Other kits require about a 2-week process, but almost all of these various brands and styles of whitening kits have one thing in common. They all use a form of chemical peroxide to bleach the teeth. Dentists also use similar types of bleaching agents, and most dentists and take-home do-it-yourself kits use a special type of peroxide bleach known as carbamide peroxide.

A solution that contains 10 percent of this carbamide peroxide chemical will break down inside the mouth to an equivalent of about three percent hydrogen peroxide. The difference in these different peroxide formulas is rather scientific and complicated, but basically carbanmide lets oxygen molecules penetrate the hard outer layer or enamel that coats the tooth, and that results in a change in the tooth to a lighter shade or whiter, brighter color. But peroxide bleaches are harsh, and they can even burn the gums if they are too strong or you happen to be sensitive to them. So care should be taken when using any kind of whitener, so that you do not accidently hurt yourself, burn your gums, or swallow the bleach. These at-home bleaches will usually not have any noticeable effect on synthetic dental crowns, veneers, or fillings – so if you have those in your mouth it is best to have a qualified dentist help you whiten them to a lighter shade.

Keep in mind that doing any kind of dental technique or tooth care process at home – without adequate training or professional experience – can be a hit or miss kind of experience. Get lucky and you might find that your smile is improved within minutes, at little cost to you. But mess up or make an unwitting mistake and you may wind up with teeth that do not show noticeable improvement but are more sensitive. Once the protective enamel coating on the teeth is thinned or weakened – which is a byproduct of most of the popular at home teeth whitening techniques and methods – you may experience discomfort or even extreme shooting pain. This kind of pain and sensitivity is especially experienced when drinking hot or cold beverages.

For a milder and less significant whitening procedure – which will not risk damaging your teeth, making them hypersensitive, or causing discomfort – you can also mix sea salt with baking soda. Add enough water to make it into a paste and then use this course and gritty homemade toothpaste to help gently whiten teeth to remove stains from smoking or coffee drinking. If stains persist, try a store bought kit or consult your dentist.

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