Teeth whitening has become a big business, with more people than ever before spending lots of money to fulfill their desire for a great smile. With the host of treatment options available today, that smile may only be one teeth whitening procedure away.

There are not many of us who maintain white, bright teeth as we age. For most of us, discoloration is an inevitable consequence of getting older. But it doesn’t have to stay that way, especially since there are all kinds of effective teeth whitening options available today.

Why do our teeth tend to become discolored over time? One reason has to do with what we eat and drink. Do you drink a lot of coffee? How about soda? Tea? Red wine? Do you smoke? All these will hasten the discoloration of our teeth as we get older.

Discoloration is not confined to just the surface of your teeth. When the enamel on the surface of a tooth develops cracks, the dentin below the surface can become yellow. Also, if certain antibiotics are taken during the years that your teeth are forming, discoloration can occur as well.

Tray bleaching is a popular teeth whitening procedure today. What it is and how it works will be the subject of the conclusion of this article.

As the name implies, tray bleaching involves the custom fitting of a special tray to the size and shape of the patient’s mouth. The whitening solution is placed in side the tray, which is then placed inside the patient’s mouth and over his or her teeth.

In most cases the bleaching agent contains peroxide – either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. These substances release oxygen as they break down inside your mouth. The oxygen penetrates the enamel of your teeth, making them whiter and brighter.

The teeth bleaching procedure usually takes three to four weeks to complete. During your first appointment with the dentist he will take an impression of your mouth in order to create a tray that is customized to the shape of your mouth. Then, after treatment has begun, you will need to continue it daily at home for up to four weeks, with each application of the whitening compound lasting about 30 minutes.

Is tray teeth bleaching right for you? Your dentist can help you decide and will be able to tell you more about all of the teeth whitening treatment choices available to you today.

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Most people are concerned about making their teeth white but how many of those are ever thought about the potential danger in teeth whitening procedures. To be fair, yes there is a potential risk of chemical reaction to your mouth tissue and teeth.

By and large the potential risk can be minimized and nothing to be worried about but worth looking into.

3 Potential Dangers in Whitening Your Teeth

1) For those people who have sensitive gums and soft mouth tissue, they could respond negatively to the chemicals solutions such as carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide that are normally used in tooth whitening procedures.

Warning! Be very careful if you want to try using these chemicals at home. Be careful not to let the chemicals touch your mouth tissue except the teeth.

The risk is minimized if you get the dental professional to do the work. Dental professionals could safeguard your teeth and mouth tissue from the toxic chemical used in the whitening procedure.

Some teeth whitening home kits do provide some protection tools such as mouth guard. Mouth guard does not work very well since it doesn’t fit everyone. It will not work with everyone, though some people may fit nicely.

2) People with sensitive teeth could be affected by the chemical used during the treatment. You could tell very well when eating food that are too hot or too cold like ice cream or hot soup.

3) The chemicals used (carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide) in the whitening procedures could also be potentially dangerous if swallowed. Some people will have a reaction of stomach upset, nausea and vomiting.

Some case studies have shown that the use of hydrogen peroxide for teeth whitening has been associated with the development of tongue cancer. There is no statistical data to quantify the claims but it is always wise to be on the safe side.

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Due to their much lower cost when compared with professional treatment options, home teeth whitening products continue to grow in popularity. Ease of use and convenience are also factors in their popularity.

Home whitening products include things like whitening toothpastes, strips, sprays and gels. While all are very easy to use, they are limited in their effectiveness. Home teeth whitening kits, which can be purchased over-the-counter and via prescription, while still inexpensive, tend to provide more significant whitening results than these other products do.

The prescription strength kit, though more expensive than the over-the-counter option, is probably the better choice since it produces better results. Provided by your dentist, and used under his supervision, a prescription strength whitening kit usually consist of mouth trays that you fill with whitening gel. The gel typically contains carbamide peroxide as its bleaching agent.

The tray is then placed inside your mouth, where you wear it on your teeth. A single application can last anywhere from 1-5 hours, and is repeated daily for up to two weeks.

While the reduced cost makes this a popular choice for many who are looking for whiter teeth, there are some negative aspects to using a home teeth whitening kit. These include the time required per treatment, how many treatments are necessary, and the number of weeks that it takes to actually get results.

Another negative aspect, for some, are the safety concerns involved with home teeth whitening. Since teeth whitening is generally suitable only for patients with otherwise healthy teeth and gums, it is strongly recommended that you get a checkup and clearance from your dentist before you start any home whitening program.

When you consider that professional, in-office whitening treatments can cost as much as $1000, such as in the case of laser whitening, and that a home whitening kit can be purchased for as little as twenty bucks, its no wonder that many choose the home option. In the end, the decision will usually center around basic economics and the question: What can I afford?

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