The Pros And Cons Of Teeth Whitening Strips

Teeth whitening strips are very popular. In fact sales of teeth whitening strips are rising steadily that it is expected to surpass sales of whitening toothpastes soon. The main reason for this is its ease of application, availability and affordability.

Teeth whitening strips are a comparatively new addition to teeth whitening for home use. The idea is to provide the customer with less messy, more convenient, least expensive but still provide effective whitening results compared to other teeth whitening home systems.

Teeth whitening strips are very flexible, very easy to use thin strips of plastic coated with bleaching agents that stick to the teeth. It comes in pairs designed for the upper and the lower teeth configuration and is applied in areas where the teeth are visible as the person smiles. Unlike other teeth whiteners, the whitening is only on the aesthetic area and like all whitening products; it is kept in the mouth for a period of time. Customers use the plastic strips while watching television, working out, doing household chores or overnight.

The usual active bleaching ingredient is carbamide peroxide. Some strips uses hydrogen peroxide but only with 6% strength where normal concentration ranges from 10 to 20%. Since carbamide peroxide is only half the strength of hydrogen peroxide, the visible effect will take about two weeks of continued use, much longer than bleaching trays that contains hydrogen peroxide and in-office treatments but because it is, teeth whitening strips is gentle and comfortable to even those with very sensitive teeth and gums.

Another reason for its popular use is that while the strips are thin, usual bleaching trays are bulky that could aggravate jaw problems, trigger gag reflex and messier to wear and remove. These differences allow a person to do much of the normal activities with less interference.

Still like most everything, there is a downside to teeth whitening strips. For one, the adhesive used may not stick very well in the teeth or it could fall off, sometimes at an unfortunate time. People who use the strips while sleeping could find out the morning after that the bleaching is to be reapplied all over again. Besides, the results, no matter how diligently done, will never equal to in-office whitening where the procedure is conducted and is professionally supervised by a dentist.

All cosmetic enhancements are subjective to the person. While companies are aiming to give superior results every time and is continuously working at providing such, customers could sometimes fall on the side the unsatisfied. When using teeth whitening plastic strips therefore, the person has to lower the expectation. Realistically, plastic strips are designed as a do-it-yourself-at-home remedy. Unlike teeth whitening trays that are designed by a dentist or a licensed practitioner to fit personalized requirements, the strips are for general use and therefore are designed to address every possible requirement without causing discomfort.

There is no risk to using dental strips, however if the person wants a whitened teeth as soon as possible which could meet particular expectations, the dentist is irreplaceable.

Teeth Whitening – How It Works

The outermost layer of a tooth is the enamel. This is a thin layer that partly covers the tooth and forms a wrap for the exposed crown. Following that is the dentin. The dentin is very similar to the enamel except it is not as hard and as shiny and while the enamel is generally white in appearance, the dentin is not. Extrinsic tooth stains forms in the enamel while for the most part, intrinsic stains that show trough the enamel occur in the dentin.

First, the tooth enamel is a highly mineralized very hard part of the tooth composed of strand of rod-like crystalline materials. These rods while very tightly packed have microscopic gaps in between them. The density of the crystalline rods differs from individual to individual and explains the reason why some tooth enamel are tougher than another person’s enamel. Nonetheless, all most all of us are born with bright shiny teeth. Even the permanent tooth that follows later invisibly white is cast.

Through everyday wear and tear, the gaps between the rods fill up with debris, tannins and other coloration that stains it. Anything that is put in the mouth will leave its mark trough forming a pellicle film over the teeth which initiated in the pores between the rods. While brushing rids most of the materials that are accumulating, not all of it is removed. Over the years, the accumulation of the debris forms layer upon layer of film that show eventually as stain.

The good thing is that while the staining agents worked its way through the pores in the rods, the whitening agents also use that access to free the teeth of the stains through oxidation reaction. For this two main whitening agents are used, the hydrogen peroxide which is a strong bleaching agent for many bleaching purposes and the much milder carbamide peroxide.

Although hydrogen peroxide is usually the bleaching agent used in in-office procedures it could also be used at home for those who do not have hypersensitivity in the gums or in the teeth. For most practices though Carbamide peroxide is used for home whitening kits. Carbamide peroxide although slower acting also works very much like a hydrogen peroxide. When in the mouth, carbamide peroxide breaks down into urea and hydrogen peroxide with hydrogen peroxide being the bleaching agent.

The dentin on the other hand could also catch stains. Many stains when allowed for a long period of time could get into the dentin forming stains that could show through the enamel. Other factors which could easily get through the enamel to the dentin are cracks in the teeth suffered through a trauma to the tooth, grinding, aging and other accidents. Blood leeching inside the tooth will also tend to stay there and form a stain.

While extrinsic stains are easier to remove, intrinsic stains usually needs more involved professional supervision. The basics though are the same. A bleaching agent will be applied and over a period of time, stains disappear through the stains reaction to oxidation.

Professional Laser Teeth Whitening Services Dissected

Having yellow teeth is no longer a problem, well at least according to many dental practitioners. There are a number of professional cleaning and teeth whitening services, and it’s now easy for you to change from that person with yellow teeth to that person with shiny white set of teeth.

The services will vary to address different needs and preferences and the costs are minimal as well thus making these professional services easy for many people interested to improve the quality of their smile. In today’s dental cosmetic market, the most popular procedure is called the laser tooth whitening. But there are other options available too that forms part of the so-called professional teeth whitening services. All these services are discussed and dissected below.

Laser teeth whitening procedure

This is how the process works. The dentist will begin with the minor cleaning procedure which will include the removal of existing plaque in the gum line. Once cleaned, a gel fortified with peroxide is then applied to the targeted teeth. This gel in question contains peroxide in just the right quantity that can ensure that the teeth will whiten. And since this is the laser whitening procedure, expect that light will be used as well and this is used to activate the gel. The whole procedure will go on for an hour and could whiten the teeth by as much as 10 shades. There will be times when the procedure may be repeated more than once to ensure that the deep stains can be addressed.

Can you still undergo the laser procedure even if you have sensitive teeth?

The good news is that even if you have sensitive teeth, this will not be an issue when it comes to the laser approach to teeth whitening. Since majority of the sessions for laser technology will be made just for a single visit, then this will definitely serve as good news for the person with the sensitive teeth.

Prepare for the costs

If this is the kind of procedure that you would want to take for your problematic teeth, then make sure that you are ready to face the costs. And since this is a new technology in the market, the cost of the procedure is still high and it will take some time before the actual costs can be lowered. But this current cost does not stop those who want to have whiter teeth and the practitioners offering this service. Right now, there are dentists that offer these services at reduced prices thus making these services affordable for the bigger set of consumers.

Just how much should you prepare when you will select these professional services?

By some estimates, you need to raise at least $300 and for top of the line services you need $2000. The costs for these procedures will definitely change depending on the area you are living in. But as others would say, cost is nothing if compared to the joys and the confidence of owning a set of white teeth.