Radiant white teeth

Teeth are made up of dentin and enamel. The color and thickness of the dentin determine the color of the teeth. It differs from person to person.

discolor
Over the years, your teeth can discolour. This is caused, among other things, by:

• cigarettes
• tea
• coffee
• wine

In addition, there are other reasons why teeth and molars are or become darker:

• Aging Process
• Dead tooth due to tooth decay or an accident
• Drug use
• Developmental Disorders

Bleaching methods
To make your teeth shine again, you can choose to have your teeth whitened. There are two different methods: bleaching from the outside and bleaching from the inside.

After a root canal treatment, it is possible to whiten a dead tooth from the inside. This is done by introducing a paste containing bleach into the tooth, after which it is sealed with a temporary filling. After a few days, the tooth becomes lighter in color. You may need to repeat this treatment a few times. When the desired result is achieved, the tooth is provided with a permanent filling.

Teeth whitening from the outside mainly happens if you suffer from light discolorations and can be done in different ways. You can be treated by a dentist or you can whiten your teeth yourself.

The dentist
The dentist begins the treatment by protecting the gums from the high concentration of peroxide used. He does this by means of a gum protector (a rubber patch or a special gel). The whitening gel is then applied to the teeth. This gel needs to work for some time.

To speed up the process, the dentist uses a whitening lamp or in some cases a laser. It is possible that a small amount of peroxide does end up on the gums. This creates white burn spots, which disappear within a few hours.

Whitening at home
You can also choose to whiten your teeth at home under the supervision of the dentist. The dentist then makes an impression of your teeth, after which a dental technician makes a so-called whitening tray.

You will then be given the whitening spoon, the whitening gel (carbamyde peroxide) and instructions to take home. To achieve good results, you should hold the bleaching tray for three to six hours a day. You can do that at any time. Even when you sleep. Results can be seen after one to four weeks. If the teeth are severely discolored, the treatment must be repeated.

Bleaching process
During the treatment with a bleaching tray, it is advisable not to do the following things, as they can affect the whitening process:

• Drink coffee, tea, carbonated soft drinks, citrus juice or wine.
• Eat food with coloring agents, such as fruit jam.
• To smoke.

Note: always get advice from a dentist before whitening your teeth at home. There are products on the market with too high concentrations of peroxide, which can damage your teeth.

Results
The result of a whitening treatment is different for everyone, because the whiteness of the teeth depends on the original color of the teeth.

If you maintain good oral hygiene and eat a healthy diet, your teeth will remain white for several years after the treatment. It is possible that the teeth become discolored again as a result of growth of the dentin, smoking a lot and/or drinking a lot of coffee, tea or wine. You can then choose to have your teeth whitened again.

Tip
If you are considering whitening your teeth, talk to a dentist first. He can determine whether your teeth are healthy and indicate which result can be achieved. Fillings, veneers, crowns and bridges are not easy to bleach!