The Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Dental
Association or ADA has been following closely the development of
whitening products. And the demand for these products is
increasing greatly. ADA recognizes the importance of setting
down standard definitions when talking about tooth whitening
products.
"Whitening", for example, us the process that will render the
teeth whiter or atleast make it appear whiter. There are 2 ways
that can achieve this. One is actually changing the natural
tooth color, making it whiter. Bleaching products contain
peroxide which not only removes surface or extrinsic
discoloration but also the acts to penetrate the deep or
intrinsic stains. On the other hand, non-bleaching products only
have agents that only remove surface stains by chemical or
physical action. These products can be dispensed and/or
administered by a dentist or bought by the patient directly from
a drugstore, which is called over-the-counter products. All of
these can be divided into 2 major groups.
Peroxide-containing whiteners or bleaching agents
Whitening products and for home-use OTC products carrying the
ADA Seal of Acceptance contain 10% carbamide peroxide. But there
are also compliant non-members and the consumers are left with
many options to choose from. ADA advices people to consult their
dentist first before applying any bleaching solution.
For water-based whitening solutions, hydrogen peroxide--the
active ingredient--is produced as a by-product by the breakdown
of a carbamide peroxide. The other by-product is urea. The other
ingredients of tooth bleachers that contains peroxide are:
carbopol, sodium hydroxide, glycerine and flavoring agents.
Carbamide peroxide has a neutral pH of 10 and so is trusted as a
safe and effective bleacher. The only common side effects of
using carbamide peroxide or hydrogen are tooth sensitivity and
irritation in the oral mucosa or the soft tissues in the mouth
specifically the gums. During the early stages of the whitening
treatment, tooth sensitivity is often observed. Tissue
irritation, more often than not, is caused by an ill-fitted
nightguard or tray and not by the bleaching agents themselves.
These two side effects are only temporary though.
For whitening products that are professionally administered,
there are also many kinds. The concentrations of the hydrogen
peroxide contained in these products range from 15 percent to 35
percent. These are often used with a light or laser that
accelerates the whitening action. Utilizing a rubber dam or
protective gel, gum tissues are isolated before the products are
applied. Unlike products uses at home which takes up to 4 weeks
before any visible signs of improvement are seen, professionally
administered bleachers works in just about an hour.
Whitening toothpastes
Also known as dentrifices by oral health care professionals,
whitening toothpastes with the ADA Seal of Acceptance contain
chemical agents act as a polisher by removing surface
discoloration to affect tooth whitening.
About the author:
Jan Thomsen has a lot of experience in dental hygiene and has
helped thousands of people get that coveted bright smile using
advanced
tooth
whitening methods. Jan Thomsen is also the author of the
site
http://www.tooth-white
ning-101.com/
