Home teeth whitening

In recent years home teeth whitening has become increasingly popular in Britain and in Europe. Home teeth whitening first became popular in America in the early 1990’s which saw the transition from in office professional treatments to the rapid increase and demand for home treatments. As consumers have become more focused on beauty and cosmetic products the demand for home teeth whitening products has increased 10 fold, with UK consumers spending more each year.

There are various reasons why people opt for home teeth whitening, however the vast majority want to improve the natural colour of their teeth, or remove stubborn stains and discoloration. The colour of the tooth can deteriorate due to life style choices such as drinking red wine, coffee, fizzy drinks, and the number one contributor to discoloured teeth, smoking. Poor dental hygiene can also cause teeth to become discoloured due to plaque build up and deposits which become stained. Genetics and age can also have a detrimental effect on the colour of teeth which has given rise to the popular use of home teeth whitening products.

 Home teeth whitening or professional whitening?

With thousands of dental practises performing procedures in Britain, why choose home teeth whitening?  In office whitening procedures in the UK are mainly conducted in dental practises or beauty spa and salon environments. Dental practises, in most cases will use a hydrogen peroxide gel as the effects are faster acting, the patient will then be given a Carbamide peroxide kit to take home.

Hydrogen peroxide is around 3 times stronger than Carbamide peroxide which means that the wearing time is much reduced. Carbamide peroxide gels are available in the following strength 10% 16% 22% 35% and now 44% however not all of these strengths are available in Europe. In office treatments can cost anything between £85- £1000 plus, and with such a hefty price tag it is understandable why many people are opting for home treatments.

Home teeth whitening first became popular in the USA when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruled teeth whitening products as a beauty product and therefore did not require prescription.  The FDA has ruled teeth whitening kits containing peroxide safe for home use. From this point millions of home teeth whitening kits have been sold worldwide.

However, it is important to understand what is the best approach to suit your own needs before deciding upon which home teeth whitening products are best for you.

 Which home teeth whitening option is best for you?

There are a few things that need to be considered when deciding which teeth whitening option is best for your needs.

 Age

Your age can affect the type of whitening treatment required, as we get older the tooth enamel starts to thin and becomes more translucent which means that dentine below the tooth surface which is naturally yellow begins to show. In order to lighten the dentine, peroxide will need to be in contact with the tooth to allow the peroxide to pass through the tooth structure and bleach the dentine.

Age groups 25-35

Within this age group most stains are likely to be extrinsic, which are external stains caused by food and drink, and therefore the whitening occurs at an accelerated rate.

22% Carbamide peroxide with 20 applications totalling 20 hours is considered to be an effective wear time to get full results. However whitening should occur within the first 3-5 days within this age group.

If you suffer with sensitivity the wear time can be reduced, however it should be noted that with Carbamide peroxide whitening only begins to take place after 20 minutes.

In addition to this 10% Carbamide peroxide treatment can be used for longer periods of time. 10% gels are best for night home teeth whitening, whereby custom fit lab trays are worn over night with the 10% gel.

 Age groups 35-45

Within this age group the discoloration may occur due to a combination of extrinsic (external) and intrinsic (internal) stains. Depending on the type of staining you may wish to opt for 22% Carbamide peroxide. If the stains are intrinsic the wearing time may be greatly increased progressing beyond 30 days.

 50 Plus

Within this age group it is important to ensure that the right type of treatment is selected for home teeth whitening. Realistic expectations must be set; as we get older the overall colour of our teeth starts to deteriorate.  Within this age range the dentine becomes more prominent and can show through the surface of the tooth enamel. The likelihood of gum disease and gum recession is prevalent which means that careful consideration should be given when opting for home teeth whitening, if you suffer with any of the above then professional treatment carried out by a dental professional would be the best option.

If you suffer with tooth sensitivity it is recommended that you reduced the wear time of 22% Carbamide peroxide, or choose an overnight home teeth whitening option.

Tetracycline

Many people that have discoloured teeth caused by tetracycline are often very disappointed with the results from both personal and home teeth whitening. The reason for this mainly is due to the unrealistic expectation. The American Dental Association suggests that 2-6 months of night whitening, using 10% Carbamide peroxide will return adequate results.

We hope that this post has been informative and gives you a better understanding of home teeth whitening.

Until next time, Always Think Bizzle and Smile.
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