Hydrogen Peroxide Teeth Whitening » Dental Hygiene

How to Select Teeth Whitening Kit? â?? Dental Facts Made Easy

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:13:06 +0000

Teeth whitening may help you a lot in improving your appearance and smile, but there are certain disadvantages as well that you should consider before using this procedure. The adverse effects of teeth whitening products can be because of many reasons. It can be due to varied composition of bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide or car amide peroxide that is used in teeth bleaching strips and other products.

Bleaching agents produces free radicals that affect the pigment contained in the organic parts of tooth enamel. These radicals reduce the pigment strength and their property to reflect light, leaving the teeth to appear white.

Our oral cavity is made up of soft tissues that are sensitive by nature. Whenever these tissues come in contact with something as caustic as hydrogen peroxide there is reflex action of irritation and salivation. It leads to a good amount of irritation in the mouth, which can last for many days. It ends only with the reduction in peroxide strength or neutralization.

Dentists do not anesthetize patientâ??s mouth during teeth whitening treatment and that can lead to discomfort during the procedure, which can sustain after the process is over. This is because of the sensitivity of teeth to the whitening procedure.

Another point of dissatisfaction is uneven whitening of teeth. In whitening process, the tips of the teeth are whitened. Later on with continued usage, rest of the teeth are whitened. Meanwhile, teeth fillings do not lighten with a teeth whitening procedure resulting in unevenly whitened teeth. In some cases, people may suffer white spots on their teeth during the treatment. This can be removed by bleaching teeth periodically, which will result in fading away the spots and lightening the teeth.

In majority of the cases, teeth whitening make the teeth sensitive to hot and cold drinks and food. After the whitening treatment, some people may experience pain for hours; which indicates that the whitening agent has come in contact with the nerve in tooth. Otherwise, it can be because of dehydration of the tooth. If the treatment is done without keeping protective barrier on gums, then it can result in chemical burns. This is due to the contact of the bleaching agents with the gums. Sometimes excessive whiting can lead to increase in the risk of darkening your teeth.Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Many users suffer from bleeding tongue and gums after using hydrogen peroxide as bleaching agent. In some cases, it can also result in diarrhea or abdominal pain. Usually in the teeth whitening products, the concentration of bleaching agent is maintained in safe standards but peroxide may give rise to respiratory problems. You must check that your teeth whitening kit contains carbamide peroxide in less than 10% concentration because excessive concentration can lead to many complications. All these facts should be considered before selecting the most optimal teeth whitening kits.Â Â

Teeth Whitening – Chemical Versus Light-activated Procedures

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 08:13:18 +0000

With all the buzz surrounding teeth whitening these days arming your self with good information gives you the best opportunity to choose the right procedure suited to your lifestyle and budget. This article will help you understand the difference between chemical and light-activated teeth whitening and whether there is clinical evidence proving one procedure out performs the other.

Chemical tooth whitening is simply the application of a hydrogen peroxide-based bleaching agent to the teeth for a specified time, usually three applications of twenty minutes each. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide used is usually stronger than what is used in light-activated procedures. A chemical based bleaching solution will typically consist of thirty eight percent hydrogen peroxide whereas a light-activated procedure may use only a fifteen percent solution of hydrogen peroxide.

The usefulness of the addition of light to activate the bleaching agent has long been a subject of controversy in the cosmetic dental community. Those in favor of light activation procedures argue that the introduction of a very high intensity plasma arc light or argon laser triggers a chemical reaction causing the hydrogen peroxide to break down into its component parts of oxygen radicals and water speeding up and enhancing the whitening process.

However controlled experiments in the laboratory have shown laser-activated hydrogen peroxide did not produce any perceivable color change. Another laboratory study showed the use of intense light elevated the temperature of the bleaching solution resulting in an increase in the temperature inside the tooth root. This could have an effect on post bleaching tooth sensitivity and pulpal health.

One possible reason for the introduction of light-activated devices such as plasma arc, light emitting diodes, argon lasers, metal halide, and xenon-halogen lights is dental manufacturers want to create a public awareness and demand for light-enhanced tooth whitening procedures. The purchase of a bleaching light can cost a dentist tens of thousands of dollars, a strong motive for dental manufacturers to promote these devices as the future of cosmetic dentistry.

Another reason is light-activated bleaching systems result in increased whitening immediately following bleaching compared with strictly chemical teeth whitening procedures. A randomized, parallel and blinded clinical evaluation study published in a January 2006 dental magazine deduced this was because of tooth dehydration due to the creation of heat from the light source.

However the increased whitening effect produced by light-activated procedures was only temporary as the teeth in all evaluated subjects showed an increase in yellow coloration for two weeks. At two weeks post bleaching yellowing stopped and this clinical study showed no difference in the tooth shade of patients using strictly chemical based or light-activated procedures.

Tooth sensitivity was not a problem for any of the participants of this clinical evaluation and everyone was satisfied with their results. Until more conclusive evidence is found, it appears there is no perceivable difference in the teeth whitening results produced by either chemical or light activated procedures.

How To Care For Your Teeth

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:20:48 +0000

With more people taking better care of their teeth at home and with advanced dental treatments, more people are keeping their natural teeth for a lifetime. Two of the most important things you can do at home is to: Brush your teeth and floss your teeth properly every day.
That sticky substance called plaque causes most dental problems that occur in the mouth. A bacterium in plaque produces acids that attack the enamel of the tooth and can cause decay. Plaque can also cause gum disease. If untreated gum disease can lead to a serious infection that can destroy gum tissue and surrounding bone. If the bone is infected, teeth can be lost.
The best thing you can do to have healthy teeth and gums is to remove the plaque that build up on your teeth daily, before it has a chance to cause any damage to your teeth and gums. The brushing is done to remove the plaque from the tooth surfaces and if your brush correctly you can also remove the plaque from under the gums. Flossing removes plaque from in between two teeth.
We learn how to brush when we are kids and sometimes we can get sloppy or we hurry through the task and do not brush all of our teeth or even all of the surfaces of our teeth. We can damage our gums if we brush too hard. Believe it or not, there are different ways to brush your teeth correctly and your hygienist or dentist can show you the way that is best for you.
Parents should brush their kids teeth through age 5 and supervise kids from age 6 through 10. Teeth should be brushed a minimum of twice a day, but ideally after each meal. Even if you do not eat breakfast, you should brush your teeth early in the morning to remove plaque build up during the night. At night you have less saliva to protect your teeth against plaque so it is really important to brush your teeth.
Most people tend to brush their teeth too hard, you really only need to brush lightly. Once plaque has hardened into tartar, you cannot brush it away the hygienist must remove it. To remember to brush lightly, hold your toothbrush like you would hold a pen.
You should brush your teeth for a minimum of two minutes each time you brush. Set a timer if you have to, to be sure that you brush for a full two minutes. Longer is fine, but two minutes is a minimum because it is what is required to brush all of your teeth and their surfaces. Sometimes brushing your teeth in the same order each time will help you to brush every tooth. Use a soft bristled brush; anything harder might cause gum damage. It is important to change your toothbrush regularly when it looks like it is getting worn or every 3 months whichever comes sooner.
It is important to choose the right toothpaste for you. Ask your dentist for advise. It is important to choose one that has fluoride.
Your dentist or hygienist can demonstrate the proper way to brush your teeth.
Floss once a day and in between each tooth. Take your time flossing, there is no hurry and doing a through job of getting in between each tooth is important. Do not skimp on the floss. There are many different types of floss, so ask your dentist for the best type for you.
Your dentist or hygienist can demonstrate the proper way to floss your teeth.

Eating Properly For Your Teeth

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:37:16 +0000

Preventing cavities is not just about good dental hygiene; it also is about what you eat and when you eat it. When you eat during meals the food does not stay on your teeth as long as when you eat in between meals. So if you have to have a sweet, it is better to have it with your meal than in between meals. Most people brush only after meals. Since it only takes about 20 minutes for plague to start forming on your teeth and to begin to damage enamel if you eat between meals and do not brush until after the next meal a lot of time will have passed from the time you eat your snack to the time you next brush your teeth.
All carbohydrates break down into simple sugars and the process starts in your mouth. Bacteria on your teeth that live in your mouth use the sugars from these foods to produce acids. It is these acids that can cause tooth decay. The longer the food remains on the teeth, the more acid is produced. Removing the food particles takes the simple sugars out of the acid equation. People who drink sweetened coffee or other sugary beverages throughout the day keep a steady supply of sugar on their teeth for the bacteria to cling to.
Certain foods help to increase the amount of saliva in your mouth and saliva helps to wash away bacteria. Some food like aged cheese helps to buffer the acid and this helps to prevent cavities if eaten at the end of a meal. Your mouth depends on good nutrition to stay healthy.
For overall good health for your body and your mouth it is important to follow the guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services, which basically says:
Eat whole grains daily, such as brown rice, oatmeal and whole wheat bread instead of refined grains, such as white bread and white rice.
Eat healthier vegetables, including dark green and orange vegetables.
Eat a variety of fruits.
Choose a diet with plenty of grain products, fruits and vegetables.
Choose fish, beans, nuts and seeds for some of your protein needs.
Choose beverages and foods to moderate your intake of sugars.
Choose and prepare foods with less salt.
If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation.
Aim for a healthy weight and be physically active each day.
There is a new interactive guide that the USDA has devised to help people understand these guidelines that can be found at www.mypyramid.gov.
These guidelines when followed will keep your body healthy which in turn helps to keep your mouth healthy. It is important to remember these guidelines and to choose your food carefully. Watch out for eating between meals and if you do so, please remember to chew sugarless gum or to rinse your mouth with water to help remove some of the food particles and sugar. The connection between the food that you eat and the health of your teeth and gums is amazingly close. You need healthy teeth to enjoy food and you need healthy food choices to protect your teeth.

The “Secret” of Healthy Teeth and Gums

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:59:27 +0000

With proper care, we can get and maintain healthy teeth and gums. The healthier our teeth are the healthier our gums will be. This results in less risk for gum disease and tooth decay. Scientific research is also finding that the health of our teeth and gums has a bearing on other aspects of our health such as our hearts.
It’s a good feeling to know that much of the overall health of our teeth and gums are so much in our own hands.
Our daily oral hygiene routine should include flossing as well as brushing. These two activities alone can do a great deal to assure better longevity of our teeth.
When you brush your teeth it’s best to turn off the water so you will not feel in a rush to get your brushing over with. Take your time. Brush as many parts of your teeth as you can reach. Flossing will take care of the rest.
One of the reasons to ensure good oral hygiene is to prevent the build up of plaque on our teeth. Two of the words used by dentists and oral hygienists that you may not fully understand are tartar and plaque.
Plaque is a sticky bacteria-containing layer of material that can accumulate on your teeth. This can collect even between your teeth in areas hard to reach with a toothbrush. This is one reason flossing is so important. This accumulation can lead to cavities and periodontal (gum) problems. Luckily proper flossing and brushing can remove plaque.
As an aside, the word cavity has tended to strike fear into the hearts of children. A cavity is simply a small hole in a tooth cause by decay. The decay occurs when plaque combines with sugar or starches in the food we eat. With new dental techniques and tools there is almost no pain now involved in filling your normal cavity.
Longstanding plaque accumulates minerals from saliva and foods. This in turn becomes what is known as tartar. Tartar is a very hard substance that becomes stuck to your teeth requiring removal by a dentist or dental hygienist using special tools.
With Proper home dental care you can remove much of the plaque that can harm your teeth and turn into tartar. Since you cannot remove all the plaque or keep your teeth perfectly clean regular visits to your dentist become an important part of your normal health routine.
Your dentist or dental hygienist can get a far better view of your teeth than you ever could just by looking in a mirror. Since your dentist is highly educated in teeth and gum problems he or she will be able to sport problems way before they become serious. With the help of x-rays and special mirrors and tools they can get in there and make sure your teeth and gums are just as they should be to create a healthy and beautiful smile.
The better the preventative care you take of your teeth the fewer problems you’ll have with them and the easier each trip to your dentist will be.