If tooth whitening has become an obsession,
you need to schedule an appointment with your dentist. People who constantly
try new over the counter whitening products such as gels, toothpastes, strips
and other whitening kits could be bordering on Bleachorexia. Dental specialists
call people who can’t get enough of tooth whitening, Bleachorexics.
Although you probably won’t have to check
into rehab to cure yourself of Bleachorexia, there are some things you can do
to help keep your whitened teeth white.
Seeing your dentist for professional
whitening is the most effective and quickest way to lighten your teeth. The
American Dental Association explains that the products that your dentist uses
are a lot stronger than what you will find at your local pharmacy. If you are
bleaching at home, make sure you choose a product from the ADA approved list.
Schedule an appointment with your dentist to
see if you are a good candidate for professional tooth whitening and what types
of tooth whitening procedures are available. Unlike those over the counter
whiteners, the custom made bleaching trays and the gel prescribed by your
dentist will get your teeth much whiter and will cost you less in the long run.
Just ask yourself how much you have paid for tooth-bleaching products in the past
and you will quickly realize that professional tooth whitening is more
economical.
If your dentist has deemed you a good
candidate for tooth whitening, you can either opt for in-house whitening, which
takes about an hour with immediate results, or the less expensive procedure,
custom made trays that you take home with results in about 4 to 6 weeks.
Chair side whitening will give you dramatically
whiter teeth in sixty to ninety minutes. During the procedure, your dentist
will apply up to 35% hydrogen peroxide bleach followed by heat or light to
speed up the whitening process. Depending on the person, you may need more than
one appointment with your dentist for this type of tooth whitening. You may
experience some temporary gum irritation or tooth sensitivity after in office tooth whitening.
Home Tooth Whitening in the comfort of your
own home, but supervised by your dentist is also available. After your dentist
makes custom-made bleaching trays, you will be given a tooth bleaching gel,
along with a hydrogen peroxide gel to use at home. It has a lower concentration
than what is used for patients having in office tooth whitening, but you will
still see better results than you would from strips or gels from the local
pharmacy. All you have to do is wear the gel-filled trays at night or a couple
of times during the day for white teeth in four to six weeks. You may
experience some tooth or gum sensitivity that will cease once you stop
whitening.
Keep your teeth white with a white diet
meaning cut down on red wine, coffee, tea, and spices such as cumin, curry, and
turmeric. Think of your teeth like the whites in your washing machine and treat
them as such. If you do enjoy these types of foods, make sure that you brush or
at least rinse after eating or drinking.
If you are showing
signs of Bleachorexia, schedule an appointment with your dentist for tooth
whitening today.
