About Teeth Whitening: Pros & Cons
Teeth-whitening products can provide a gleaming, bright-white smile, but side effects, costs and warnings should be taken into consideration when deciding whether to utilize a teeth-whitening system.
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Benefits
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Teeth whitening makes your smile brighter, often providing a noticeable cosmetic improvement. Age, smoking and drinks such as red wine, coffee and colas can stain or darken tooth enamel. Teeth grinding often causes the bitten edges to have a discoloration. Teeth whitening can help to lighten and brighten the teeth and transform a smile.
Effects
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Teeth whitening is not permanent. It is a temporary lightening and brightening of the teeth's enamel. In order to maintain the brightness, repeat treatments are necessary. There are also side effects (most often temporary) that can come along with tooth whitening. These include chemical burns, sensitive teeth and over-bleaching.
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Warning
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People with receding gums, sensitive teeth or sensitive gums should discuss the use of a teeth-whitening system with their dentist prior to using a product to whiten their teeth. Additionally, anyone allergic to peroxide---the bleaching product used for teeth whitening---should avoid the process. Most importantly, overuse of teeth bleaching and whitening agents can result in tooth enamel damage.
Types
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There are three types of teeth-whitening methods available today: in-office whitening, over-the-counter kits and professionally dispensed take-home whitening kits. The in-office whitening procedure costs the most, with an average cost of $650. The over-the-counter products can run anywhere from $20 to $100. The professionally dispensed take-home whitening kits usually run from $100 to $400.
Considerations
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Teeth whitening may not work on all teeth. Brownish teeth do not bleach well. Grayish teeth bleach even less well. If you have bonded or tooth-colored fillings, bleaching will not lighten those areas. In fact, it may cause these areas to stand out.
Expert Insight
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When choosing a teeth-whitening product, look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance. This will provide assurance that the product has met the American Dental Association standard for safety and effectiveness.
Time Frame
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There are several time frames available for teeth whitening. These include one-hour bleaching sessions performed by a dentist and shorter commitments for over-the-counter products, which typically stay on the teeth anywhere from five minutes daily to 30 minutes daily for 7 to 14 days. The pro of having the procedure done in the dentist's office is that it is a concentrated time frame, versus having to apply the teeth-whitening product daily for a week or two. However, utilizing the over-the-counter products offers privacy and the flexibility of doing something else while the teeth-whitening agent is doing its thing.
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Resources
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