Periodontal Disease: Causes and Symptoms
05/07/2019
Learn all about Tooth Whitening:
- What is tooth whitening?
- How long does tooth whitening last?
- Can all people whiten their teeth?
- Does tooth whitening need maintenance?
The yellow coloration of the teeth may be hereditary, but in most cases it arises due to daily habits and behaviors. The good news is that it is possible to reverse the situation and return the glow to your smile with a visit to the dentist.
To clarify some doubts about tooth whitening, which so much curiosity arouses nowadays, we interviewed our oral hygienist.
In a nutshell, what is tooth whitening?
In a simple way, bleaching can be defined as a procedure that makes teeth whiter quickly and without surgery. Dental bleaching ensures visible results immediately after treatment.
I decided to do the teeth whitening to brighten my teeth. And now?
The first step is to choose a reliable dental whitening clinic and do an oral hygiene assessment.
Before tooth whitening, a dermatitis should be performed and, if caries occurs, these should also be discarded. As I say: first health, then aesthetics.
Another important factor to consider is if the patient has restorations, as these do not bleach and may have to be changed a posteriori, so that the dentition is homogenous.
How the tooth whitening process is done?
- Before you begin to whiten your teeth, a lip retractor is placed in the patient’s mouth and a cotton swab is used to absorb the saliva.
- Then we put vaseline on the lips and a gingival protector on the gums to prevent the gel from coming in contact with them, which can cause a slight burning..
- Finally, we applied a gel activator on the teeth and the whitening gel.
The tooth whitening gel used at the MINT Clinic has a number of components that reduce sensitivity and react to an LED light. In the background, its function is to open the “pores” of the teeth and provoke a chemical reaction, which whitens the tooth from the inside out.
How long does a tooth whitening visit?
The whitening session lasts 1 hour, with the activator and gel replaced every 15 minutes.
In the end, we remove the products and accessories, and the patient cheek normally.
How long does the tooth whitening result?
The durability of tooth whitening varies depending on the habits of each person. In my case, for example, it has lasted for five years, because I rarely drink coffee, I do not smoke, and I am very careful about oral hygiene.
What care should we take after tooth whitening?
The patient should use transparent silicone gutters for 3 days during the night rest period with a viscous gel that prevents regression of the color of the enamel. These gutters are made from molds with the shape of the dentition of each patient. They can be made before (recommended) or after the bleaching treatment.
Since the pores are open 24 to 48 hours after treatment, care should be taken, such as avoiding consumption of acidic drinks or foods or pigments such as coffee, tea, red fruits, curry, tomato sauce, natural juices, red wine and soft drinks.
If the patient does not follow the recommendations, drink a little water after eating the mentioned foods, brush the teeth or rinse the mouth with an elixir. Tobacco should also be avoided to the maximum.
Do you want to do tooth whitening in Lisbon? Come and Visit Mint Clinic.
For information on tooth whitening consultation at the Clinic Mint, click here.
