Clarifying or whitening teeth?
According to the US Food and Drug Administration, the term "brightening" is used only when the color of the teeth as a result of the procedure becomes whiter than their natural color. This applies to products that contain clarifying agents, usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.
The term "whitening" means restoring the natural color of the tooth surface by removing plaque and dirt. Thus, any cleaning product such as toothpaste is considered a bleach. Of course, the term teeth whitening sounds better than brightening, which is why it is used more often, even when describing products that contain whiteners.
Why do we whiten our teeth?
Most of us enter life with radiant white teeth thanks to their porcelain-like enamel. Tooth enamel, made up of complex microscopic crystalline branches, is designed to protect teeth from the effects of chewing, grinding, trauma, and the acidic effects of sugar. But over the years, the enamel wears out, becomes more transparent, thereby allowing the yellow color of dentin, the main material of the tooth, to appear.
During chewing, the dentin remains intact, while millions of microcracks appear in the enamel. It is these cracks, as well as the space between the crystalline branches of the enamel, that are gradually filled with stains and plaque. Therefore, over time, the teeth become dull and darkened. As a result, you have to whiten your teeth.
As a result of bleaching, stains and plaque disappear, leaving cracks in the enamel available for further treatment. Some of them are quickly remineralized by saliva, while others are filled with organic plaque again.
Typology of dental stains
There are two categories of dental stains: external and internal.
External stains appear on the surface of the tooth as a result of the action of dark-colored drinks, food and tobacco, as well as due to its daily wear. Shallow external stains are not significant and can be eliminated by daily brushing at home and preventive cleaning at the dentist. To get rid of deep external stains, you need to make more efforts, for example, to whiten your teeth. Stubborn extrinsic stains can penetrate the dentin if not removed in time.
Internal stains form inside the tooth. Intrinsic stains result from damage, aging, the action of minerals (eg, tetracycline) during tooth formation, and/or excessive absorption of fluoride. In the past, internal stains could not be removed, but now cosmetic dentistry experts believe that even very deep internal stains can be removed with home whitening, which lasts for months or even a year under the guidance of a specialist.
Causes of tooth stains
Age
There is a direct relationship between the color of the teeth and the age of the person. Over the years, teeth darken as a result of wear and tear and plaque buildup. Teenagers are sure to immediately notice the excellent results of teeth whitening. Between the ages of 20 and 30, teeth whitening may take longer. By the age of forty, the yellowness can turn brown and it can take even longer to remove. By the age of fifty, teeth have absorbed deep stains that are very difficult (but not impossible) to remove.
Original tooth color
Each of us has a tooth color from birth, which grades from yellow-brown to gray-green and becomes more saturated over time. Yellow-brown shades tend to be more amenable to lightening than grey-greens. Transparency and thinness There are also characteristic genetic features that appear with age. While all teeth have some degree of translucency, teeth that are less translucent have the advantage of being lighter, shinier, and bleachable. Thinner and more transparent teeth (predominantly anterior) contain less pigment needed for lightening. According to cosmetic dentists, translucency is the only thing whitening cannot fix.
Food
The habit of drinking red wine, coffee, tea, cola, carrots, oranges and other dark-colored drinks and foods leads to the formation of tooth stains over the years, which necessitates teeth whitening. On top of that, acidic foods like citrus fruits and vinegar will erode the enamel. As a result, the surface becomes more translucent and exposes more yellow dentin.
Smoking
Nicotine leaves a brown coating that slowly seeps into the tooth structure and causes internal discoloration.
Drugs/chemicals
The use of tetracycline during tooth formation causes dark gray ribbon stains that are very difficult to get rid of. Excessive intake of fluoride leads to fluorosis and pitting of the teeth.
Screeching
Most often, stress-induced grinding of teeth can cause micro-cracks in the teeth and darkening of their edges.
Injuries
Falls and other injuries can cause large cracks in the teeth, which can accumulate large amounts of plaque and stains.
As you can see, regardless of the cause of tooth stains, many people sooner or later have to whiten their teeth. The sooner this is done, the higher the likelihood of obtaining satisfactory results.
Source: estet-portal.com.
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