"That's Mighty White Of You"

Everybody wants teeth that are bright white yet despite brushing, flossing and even visiting our dentist regularly, most people's teeth tend to lose their whiteness over time.

Our teeth usually turn yellow with time. This color change can make us look older and less attractive. What causes the change in the color of our dentition? The passing of time wears away the colorless protective outer layer of our teeth called the enamel. The thinning of the enamel causes the yellow dentin to show through. The dentin is the yellowish innermost layer of the teeth following the enamel. Acidic saliva accentuates the thinning of the enamel making it more porous. Taking in more sugary foods can turn the saliva more acidic. The more sugar found in the oral cavity, the more acid is formed by the resident bacteria.

Some beverages particularly coffee, cola, tea and red wine can stain the enamel. Residues from these beverages can seep through the enamel and can cause dental staining. Even residues from berries can result into dental staining as well. Smoking is also found to cause teeth discoloration and so are tartar deposits.

Here are some of the options you have if you want to have pearly white teeth.

1. The most popular whitening procedure is power bleaching or chairside bleaching. This procedure is done by your dentist at the dental office. The procedure is done by applying a whitening gel to your teeth. The whitening gel contains 20 to 35 percent hydrogen peroxide. Your dentist then activates the bleaching agent by using a powerful light source. Yellowish and brown stains often respond more favorably with this type of whitening procedure although gray stains do not have high positive response with this type of treatment. Unlikely candidates for power bleaching are people with hyper-sensitive teeth and mouth tissues. With power bleaching, you can enjoy between 1 to 3 years of white pearly teeth.
   
   
2. You can have whiter teeth by using home bleaching or nightguard bleaching. This type of procedure can by done at home with the help of your dentist. Your dentist will take a dental impression of both your upper and lower teeth. From this dental impression, he will fabricate molds or trays that resemble an athlete's mouth guard. You will then apply whitening solutions to the trays. Your dentist will usually ask you to wear the mouth guard one to two hours a day or overnight or depending on how sensitive you are to the procedure. Your dentist will provide you a supply of the whitening solution. This type of whitening solution is usually a less concentrated form of the in-office bleaching solution. It will take about two weeks or more for the treatment to be completed. The duration of the treatment takes longer especially when the patient's teeth have turned yellow because of tobacco stain. Home bleached teeth usually last up to 3 years similar with power bleaching and the molds can be re-used later for touch-ups.
   
   
3. The simplest and easiest way to have whiter teeth is by using whitening toothpastes. These types of toothpastes contain chemical or polishing agents that remove surface stains from the teeth. Although this is the easiest way to have whiter teeth, this type of treatment doesn't provide the same good results that power bleaching and home bleaching offer.
   

You may be tempted to buy over the counter bleaching kits that claim good results. You should be aware that many of these products have not been approved by the American Dental Association and most do not meet the criteria for safety and effectiveness. Some one-size-fits-all mouth trays can allow the bleaching agents to escape to the gums and may cause irritation. It is better to ask for your dentist's help and opinion than encounter unwanted results later on.