Is Whitening Bad for Your Teeth?

1. What is whitening?

Teeth whitening is a method of using oxidants (Carbamide Peroxide - at-home bleaching or Hydrogen Peroxide - bleaching at the dentist) to permeate the enamel, when combined with light energy will create an oxidation reaction. Cut off chains of colored molecules in the dentin, making teeth brighter than the original tooth color without damaging the tooth surface or any elements in the teeth.

Teeth whitening helps to improve stained teeth, teeth whitening a few tones brighter than the original

There are 2 main groups of causes that cause tooth stains:

(1) Stains on tooth surface:

• Using foods and beverages with colors: chocolate, tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, curry, ketchup ... erode tooth enamel, affecting the natural beauty of the teeth.

• Tobacco: Tobacco resin combined with a thin film on the teeth makes teeth dull. Therefore, long-term smokers have to live with unattractive yellow stained teeth.

• Poor oral hygiene: Improper brushing and flossing will allow food waste and bacteria to stick to the enamel, making teeth darker.

• Mouthwash: Chloherxidine, Hexetidine in mouthwash can stain teeth if used for a long time.

 (2) Deep staining of teeth structure:

• Due to age: Over time, the outer layer of enamel wears away, exposure to more and more foods and beverages with pigments that cause staining makes teeth stained worse.

• Due to genetics: Teeth color can be inherited in the structure of thick or thin enamel. The thinner the enamel layer, the more visible the dentin is. If most of your family members have dull teeth, your risk of yellowing too is very high.

• Tetracycline antibiotic infection: Active ingredients in Tetracycline antibiotic diffuse into newly formed calcified tissue, causing the color element salts to seep into the dentin, causing teeth to become stained. If the mother takes this medicine while pregnant or a child takes it before 7-8 years of age, the teeth may discolor all over the entire jaw or only in a certain area. Tetracycline staining can be divided into 4 levels: yellow, brown, gray, purple.

• Excess Fluoride: Using water with a high fluoride concentration, overdosing on fluouride toothpaste, or oral fluoride supplements can discolor teeth structure.

2. Is whitening harmful?

There are many methods to change the color of teeth, in which teeth whitening is widely applied in Vietnam and many countries around the world. Teeth whitening has been studied to be safe for oral health, does not harm tooth enamel, and does not change tooth structure if done properly. To ensure safety and achieve optimal results, you should look to dentistry using genuine bleach, modern bleaching light system. In the case of at-home bleaching, there should also be the appointment and supervision of a dentist, to avoid using external drugs of an arbitrary concentration, which can spread down the gums, leading to pathologies. Oral serious.

The results of teeth whitening in each person are different, depending on the cause and the initial staining condition. The whiteness may decrease over time but still be whiter than the original tooth color.

Most people can bleach their teeth, except in some cases:

• Pregnant and lactating women, because active ingredients in tooth bleaching affect the health of young children in the future.

• Children under the age of 16, because the bleach can irritate the pulp, teeth will become more sensitive.

• People are suffering from periodontitis, tooth decay, worn neck teeth, open ankles.

• People with signs of an allergic reaction to bleach.

Is whitening harmful when there is a feeling of sensitivity?

In fact, there are many cases of feeling numb after whitening teeth. However, this is a normal symptom, not dangerous, in 60% of whitening cases. Because the dentin layer has sensory tubes, when applied, it will cause mild sensitivity for a few days, nothing to worry about.

Possessing natural bright white teeth is the wish of many people, helping them to have a confident smile, a youthful look, increase facial aesthetics and create a good impression on others.

3. Common teeth whitening methods

Currently in dentistry there are 2 popular bleaching methods:

Wear whitening troughs at home: The doctor will take teeth marks and make the tray fit, right with the size of each person's teeth. This type of trough is made of transparent, safe plastic that does not damage the gums. It works to keep bleach, prevent saliva from overflowing, affecting the whitening process. Your doctor will provide you with bleach concentration of 10 - 15% and detailed instructions on how to use bleach troughs and how to handle possible situations.

Each person will have a separate chute, with a specific size

The advantage of this method is that it helps you take initiative in time (wearing the chute for 2-3 hours at any time), done at home with low cost. However, it is not effective in bleaching in all cases, it is only applied for mild cases such as: foreign color stains due to external influences, teeth staining due to age.

Teeth whitening at the dentist office: The professional whitening process includes 3 steps: whitening, polishing and whitening. Doctors combine drugs with a high bleaching concentration of 35 - 37% and a strong light beam to activate the drug to penetrate deeper. Before using bleach, the doctor wears protective equipment for the lips, gums, oral cavity; At the same time, apply anti-depressant to make customers feel comfortable.

The dental bleaching process only takes about 1 hour

The outstanding feature of this method is the quick implementation, effective even in cases of severe stains, dark yellow, stains caused by Tetracycline, Fluorosis, and the upper and lower molars are bleached at the same time, for both Both white teeth are natural.

4. Notes when whitening teeth

• Before bleaching, it is necessary to clean tartar, complete treatment of caries, gingivitis, periodontal disease, restore worn necks, anti-sensitivity if teeth are too sensitive.

• In case of severe stained teeth, you can combine both bleaching methods at the clinic and wearing a trough at home to achieve the desired effect.

• After 2 weeks of bleaching, you should abstain from foods and beverages with color, avoid drinking water that is too hot or too cold, and taking good oral care will help limit re-color.

• Wondering if many teeth whitening is harmful? Really harmful if you buy and use bleach outside without the guidance of a dentist, teeth more or less affected.

• Choosing a reputable examination address: Currently, due to widespread bleaching in many facilities with insufficient equipment, doctors do not give clear advice or some people buy bleach by themselves. at home, leading to burns of the gums, pulp inflammation. Therefore, it is necessary to find reliable dental centers to bring optimum effectiveness and safety for the oral health.

CarePlus is an international standard clinic system in Vietnam and is a member of Singapore Medical Group (SMG) - a leading healthcare provider in Singapore with a network of more than 20 specialties and more than 26 rooms. examination.

CarePlus International Clinic system provides safe, effective and reputable teeth whitening services. Especially with the Philips Zoom Whitespeed whitening device, customers will feel less cold, about 20% more outstanding effect than conventional bleaching systems.

Philips Zoom Whitespeed uses cold LED light instead of Laser, easy to use and safer

Whitening price list at CarePlus:

> Home Whitening With Pola Office Medicine: 1,500.00 VND

> Home Whitening With Zoom Medicine: 2,000,000 VND

> Teeth Whitening in the Dental Room with Pola Office Medicine: 3,000,000 VND

> Teeth Whitening in the Dental Room with Zoom Medicine: 4,000,000 VND

CarePlus system in HCMC:

- Tan Binh clinic, Address: 107 Tan Hai, Ward 13, Tan Binh District, HCMC

Working time:

• Monday - Friday: 8:00 - 20:00

• Saturday: 8:00 - 17:00

- District 7 Clinic, Address: 2nd Floor, Crescent Plaza, 105 Ton Dat Tien, Tan Phu Ward, District 7, City. HCM City

Working time:

• Monday - Friday: 8:00 - 20:00

• Saturday: 8:00 - 17:00

To learn more about Care Plus's whitening service, please visit: https://careplusvn.com/en/tay-trang-rang or contact: 028 7300 3223 (Tan Binh Clinic), 028 7308 0088 (District 7 Clinic).