Even though we brush our teeth regularly, most of our teeth are not as white as we would like! However, it does not make our teeth appear whiter than they are. One of the factors that affect our natural tooth color is our genetic structure. Factors such as excessive fluoride intake during growth and development and the use of antibiotics containing tetracycline also cause permanent discoloration. We see that the color of the teeth darkens over time, either in people with advanced age or in teeth with root canal treatment that have lost their vitality. Teeth whitening is not appropriate in cases where teeth have broken, cracked, gum disease or unhygienic restorations. The color of restorations other than natural teeth in the mouth does not change with the bleaching process. It is not recommended to do the whitening process in patients who use regular cigarettes and tobacco derivatives, as the lifespan will be very short.
There are many methods to whiten teeth. It is very important to isolate the gums and soft tissues before the procedure. In case of leakage, painful damage to the gums can occur. It is completed in a total of 1.5 hours by renewing the gel applied to the teeth 3 or 4 times at intervals of 15 minutes, depending on the need. Afterwards, the intake of colored food and beverages is restricted for at least 10 days. In the continuation of this process, which takes place in the clinic, sometimes a method called home bleaching can be applied to consolidate it. For this method, it is recommended to apply special whitening plaques prepared by the measurement taken from the patient's teeth and a lower percentage home whitening gel developed for home type to the patient for certain periods up to one week. During this period, it is recommended that the patient stay away from coloring foods.
Teeth whitening may cause temporary tooth sensitivity in some individuals depending on the tooth structure. The severity of this sensitivity, which will last for a day or two, can be minimized with desensitizing gels, pastes and pain relief tablets that your dentist will apply and prescribe.
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