Get to know teeth whitening

Tooth discoloration is generally caused by drinks that leave stains, such as coffee, tea, or wine. In addition, tooth discoloration can occur due to smoking, excessive use of fluoride, consumption of certain drugs such as tetracycline, injury to the teeth due to collision, or thinning of tooth enamel due to the aging process.

Teeth whitening can be lived by anyone who has a yellow stain on his teeth, especially patients who have healthy teeth and gums, and are not hollow.

Some conditions that cause teeth whitening procedures should not be carried out, including:

Age. Patients under the age of 16 are not advised to do teeth whitening, because until that age, the tooth nerve still grows. Teeth whitening will make teeth more sensitive.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Pregnant and lactating women may not undergo a teeth whitening procedure.

Sensitive teeth. Patients with sensitive teeth or gums should first consult a doctor before planning to undergo teeth whitening.

Allergy. Individuals who are allergic to peroxide (peroxide) are not advised to undergo teeth whitening.

Dental and gum problems. Teeth whitening is not recommended for patients with cavities. The bleaching liquid that enters the tooth hole can cause the gums to become sensitive. The patient must patch the perforated teeth before undergoing teeth whitening.

Dental restoration. Denture crowns or dental veneers cannot change color by teeth whitening, so the risk of causing tooth color is not the same. It is recommended to whiten teeth 2 weeks before dental restoration, so that the artificial teeth can be adjusted to the color of the teeth that have been bleached.

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There is no special preparation before the teeth whitening procedure, only the patient's teeth will be photographed as a comparison before and after teeth whitening.

The teeth whitening procedure is generally carried out by the dentist with the following stages:

The dentist will polish the surface of the teeth with pumice to remove plaque.

Lips, gums, tongue, and inner cheeks will be protected with gauze, rubber, and retractors (opening of the oral cavity), so as not to be exposed to liquid bleach.

The bleaching liquid is applied to the surface of the tooth. Bleach used can be made from hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.

The doctor will irradiate the teeth with ultraviolet light for 30-60 minutes to help the bleaching process.

After that, the teeth will be cleaned from the bleach, and the entire protector will be removed.

The doctor will also apply fluoride to the teeth to reduce sensitivity.

If you are not satisfied with the results, the patient can make a schedule to repeat the teeth whitening process.

The effect of teeth whitening does not last permanently. The following are things that can be done to maintain the brightness of the teeth:

Avoid consuming food or drinks that can make stains on teeth, such as coffee, tea, sauce or tomato juice, wine, or candy.

If you consume food or drink, immediately brush your teeth afterwards.

Brush your teeth twice a day and use dental floss (dental floss) to remove food scraps.

Use toothpaste containing bleach 1-2 times a week, and use regular toothpaste to brush your teeth everyday.

Perform a dental check every 6 months. Examination must be done more regularly for smokers.

Side Effects of Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening can increase sensitivity to the teeth and mild irritation of the soft tissues in the mouth, especially the gums. However, the condition is only temporary and will disappear 1-3 days after teeth whitening. You can use toothpaste with potassium (potassium nitrate) to reduce sensitivity to teeth and gums.