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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For information on tooth whitening consultation at the Clinic Mint, click here.