One of the most common cosmetic dental procedures is teeth whitening, which offers a quick, non-invasive, and reasonably priced approach to improve a smile. Every budget, time limit, and temperament may be satisfied by whitening (or bleaching) procedures, which are universally valued by both men and women. Almost everyone who chooses a teeth whitening method notices a modest to significant increase in the brilliance and clarity of their smile.
There are several approaches of tooth whitening, each with a unique mode of operation. Depending on the specific tooth discolouration being treated, the effectiveness of these various techniques varies. Intrinsic and extrinsic staining are the two basic types of tooth discolouration causes. Intrinsic staining, also known as internal staining, can be caused by a variety of things, including genetics, ageing (as the enamel wears down over time, revealing yellower dentin), antibiotics, high fluoride levels, and developmental disorders. It can even begin before the tooth has fully emerged. Some dental restorations can discolour teeth after the tooth has emerged. Extrinsic staining, or external staining as it is commonly known, is mostly brought on by environmental causes such as smoking, colours in food and drink, antibiotics, and metals like iron or copper. A stain is produced when coloured substances from these sources are absorbed into dental pellicule that has been grown or directly onto the surface of the tooth.

What exactly happens when teeth are whitened?
Any procedure that lightens a tooth’s colour is considered tooth whitening. A chemical reaction to lighten the tooth’s colour or manual removal of the stain are both acceptable methods of whitening. Here, “bleaching” is referred to as the chromogens’ chemical deterioration. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is presented as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, is the primary component in the majority of whitening products. When in contact with water, the stable compound carbamide peroxide disintegrates and releases hydrogen peroxide. The majority of teeth whitening products employ hydrogen peroxide due to carbamide peroxide’s ability to release hydrogen peroxide.
Compounds with colour or darker shades called chromogens that collect in the tooth (intrinsic) or on the tooth make up tooth stains (extrinsic). Chromogens can be divided into two groups: big organic molecules with conjugated double bonds and substances containing metals. Hydrogen peroxide reacts with double bonds to oxidise them in the process of bleaching organic molecules. The chromogen changes colour as a result, becoming a lighter molecule. The metallic components are significantly more difficult to bleach; veneers, bonding, or crowns would be better solutions aesthetically. Some professional preparations contain sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), which interacts with the chromogen’s double bonds in a manner similar to peroxide.

Teeth Whitening Methods

Whitening toothpastes
To remove more difficult stains, whitening toothpaste often contains more abrasives and detergents than regular toothpaste. While most whitening toothpastes don’t include bleach (sodium hypochlorite), some do have minute amounts of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which can assist whiten teeth. Generally, whitening toothpaste may lighten teeth by one to two shades.

OTC Whitening Gels and Strips
On plastic strips that are moulded to fit over the buccal surfaces of the teeth, they apply a thin coating of peroxide gel. There are several white strip items with various installation instructions on the market. The strips should be applied twice daily for 30 minutes for 14 days, according to an usual set of instructions. This procedure can lighten the teeth by one or two shades, and results can be observed in a few days. There are several more recent whitening strip treatments that offer the same whitening end point as the two-a-day solutions but just need one 30-minute application every day.
Peroxide-based whitening gels are administered with a little brush to the teeth’s surface. The typical manufacturer’s recommendations call for twice daily applications for 14 days. The teeth may often be made one or two shades lighter, much as the whitening strips.

Whitening Rinses
To interact with the chromogens, bleaching rinses include oxygen sources such as hydrogen peroxide. The manufacturer recommends rinsing twice day for 60 seconds each. A change in tooth colour of one or two shades might be seen after up to three months.

Tray-based Tooth Whiteners
There are tray-based teeth whitening devices for sale both in-office and over-the-counter. With this technique, a fitting tray filled with bleaching gel containing carbamide peroxide is worn for 2 to 4 hours each day or overnight. When using tooth whitening products as directed by the manufacturer, results are often seen in a few days and the teeth lighten by one or two shades.

In-Office Whitening
Because the solutions produce stronger peroxide concentrations than OTC, in-office whitening can result in faster teeth lightening. So, before the medication is administered, gingival tissues are often protected. Certain products promise to speed up the oxidation of chromogens by activating the product while it is on the tooth and exposing it to heat or bright blue light with a wave length between 480 nm and 520 nm. To speed up chemical processes, some experts employ laser devices. After one 30- to 60-minute treatment, effects for tooth whitening are visible. Several uses can produce more striking outcomes.

What dangers lurk in both at-home kits and salon teeth whitening?
Some home whitening kits don’t have enough whitening substance to work. Additionally, if a dentist isn’t performing the bleaching, the mouthguard may not fit properly and part of the bleaching gel may seep out onto your gums and into your mouth, resulting in blistering and sensitivity.