Discoloration of teeth is inevitable with the amount of chemicals our teeth are exposed to on a daily basis, that’s why it’s important for us to brush, floss and use mouthwash regularly to slow down the process of discoloration and prevent bacteria from damaging the teeth. Regular everyday oral care, unfortunately, cannot lighten the shade of color of our teeth.
That’s why there’s teeth whitening. Teeth whitening comes in various forms, but the most common one is professional bleaching. Hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide is the active ingredient and before it is applied, a rubber dam is placed on the gums to protect them. The active ingredient is then applied on the teeth and a mouthguard is placed on the teeth to allow the active ingredient to break down and allow oxygen to enter the enamel, causing the teeth to whiten.
There’s also laser whitening, also known as power whitening. A rubber dam is placed on the gums and a bleaching product is applied on the teeth. A laser is shone onto the whitening product to activate the chemical. The laser speeds up the whitening process, which means you achieve lighter teeth color faster than professional bleaching.
