The benefits that come with being attractive cannot be denied. It is no wonder that people go to extreme lengths to improve their appearance, teeth whitening included. Valued by both men and women, great teeth helps you get a glamorous white smile that will win anyone over. There are whitening treatments that can suit every time frame, budget, and lifestyle. Some tooth whitening options include home-use bleaching packs, bleaching appointments with the dentists, and dental veneers.

Bleaching vs. Whitening

There is a difference between bleaching and whitening the teeth. The FDA classifies bleaching when the teeth can get whiter than their natural color. Usually, bleaching products contain ingredients such as carbamide and hydrogen peroxide. Meanwhile, whitening refers to bringing back the natural color of the teeth by getting rid of stains and dirt at the surface.

Majority of people have natural healthy white teeth because of the enamel surface. Made up of crystalline rods on a microscopic scale, the tooth enamel protects the teeth from gnashing, chewing, and the acid from sugar. Repeated abuse on the enamel can cause it to get worn down, it becomes damaged and transparent allowing the dentin which or the core material of the teeth to show the yellow color.

During chewing, millions of micro-cracks occur in the teeth enamel. The cracks and the spaces within teeth fill up with food debris. This causes the teeth to develop a lackluster and yellow appearance. Tooth whitening basically work by removing the dirt and stains on the teeth.

Types of Tooth Discoloration

It is important to know the two types of discoloration in the teeth because it allows you to know which option is best for your situation. The two categories of discoloration include extrinsic staining and intrinsic staining:

·        Extrinsic Staining – this type of stain appears on the surface because of its contact with dark-colored food, beverages, and tobacco. Extrinsic stains are usually superficial and can easily be removed by thorough brushing using a whitening toothpaste and prophylactic cleaning. Deep extrinsic stains can be removed by more aggressive efforts such as bleaching. Unless it is treated early, this can penetrate the dentin and cause more serious problems.

·        Intrinsic Staining – it forms in the teeth’s interior. Intrinsic stains are usually the results of aging, trauma, excessive ingestion of fluorine, and even exposure to tetracycline during the formation of teeth. Dental experts used to think that intrinsic staining cannot be removed by simple bleaching or whitening. Today, some products are believed to be effective if it is maintained for months or years.

Other Tooth Whitening Options

Right now, dental veneers are emerging as the preferred option to correct problematic teeth. It basically works by “covering up” damaged, crooked, or stained teeth. Custom-designed wafer-thin shells made from ceramic materials are applied to the teeth surface. Uneven alignments, spacing problems, and other irregularities can be eliminated giving you that perfect smile. It is not surprising that a lot of people are now turning to this solution to get a glamorous white smile.