Teeth whitening 101 by bangkok cosmetic dentist

What is teeth whitening ?

Teeth whitening treatment is most likely the talk of the town when it comes to dental treatment or by just hearing the word dental/dentist. Many people aspire to have a white bright smile, well who wouldn’t want to?

The main focus what teeth whitening treatment does is to improve the color of your teeth by using bleaching natual teeth. Teeth whitening or bleaching is done to remove stains and restore your teeth shade color back to its origin or for some patient even above their natural shade for some patients. With whitening treatment it may brings out the best shade you have and improves teeth whiteness.

The chemical solution or active ingredients that whitens teeth is called hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Basically, these active ingredients bleaches the enamel, which is the outer covering of the tooth, and the dentine, which is the inside of the tooth. When both the enamel and dentine are whitened to get an improved colour.

The results of your teeth whitening treatment depends on how your enamel reacts to the whitening agent. There are some factors that may affect the outcome of the treatment such as dental status, lifestyle or even medical condition. If you opt for teeth whitening with your dentist, a clinical examination is administered before you proceed with the actual treatment to check and ensure that you are indeed suited for whitening.

Difference between in-office and home whitening treatment

In teeth whitening treatment there are 2 options that we can choose from, there is what we call :

in-office teeth whitening
at-home teeth whitening

In-office teeth whitening treatment is the professional method. In Thailand, this is done at the dental clinic and is administered by your dentist. We do not use detal hygienist or dental nurses to treat patients for teeth whitening that is illegal. The concentration of the whitening agent in the clinic is much higher than home whitening kit, therefore it has to be done under a licensed individual. The effectivity of in-office whitening is seen or evident in just one session.

Home whitening treatment or home bleaching kit is done by yourself. This mean after purchasing the home bleaching kit at the dental clinic, you may used take it home and use it immediately at your conveience. This is an option for people who are unsure whether to opt for in-office whitening treatment and is a budget-friendly option. In Thailand and at BIDH dental hospital, our home bleaching kit consists of customized upper and lower trays and whitening gels. This can be used 2-4 hours during day time, or overnight at your convenience. You may also ask for further advice with your dentist. Take-home bleaching kits from your dentist offices will normally contain a more effective or higher concentration of whitening percentage as compared to over-the-counter kits that may not be certified or approved.

The result of home bleaching may take more time than the in-office teeth whitening because it contains a lesser percentage of hydrogen peroxide. Hence, changes or teeth color improvement might be seen in few days or weeks as long as instruction and post care is done in accordance with your dentist directives.

Are there adverse effect of both in office whitening and home bleaching treatment? Some patients may feel sensitivity after treatment. This varies with each individual depending on your enamel’s reaction to the whitening agent and your sensitivity tolerance.

How does a 1 hour session teeth whitening goes at the dentist office?

First timers having in-office teeth whitening done are recommended to manage their expectations. Some people may see a dramatic effect on their teeth in one session due to their natural teeth response to the whitening gel, whilst others may require additional sessions or continue with home bleaching kit to obtain a more signifcant color shade change.

Your smile take up one third of you overall facial profile, having teeth whitening is non-invasive and retains your natural teeth. Your smile should not be neglected as it is also part of your everyday makeup.

Our Top 3 picks on teeth whitening brands in Thailand

1. Philips Zoom! Whitening WhiteSpeed

Zoom! Teeth Whitening is the one of the world’s most popular patient-requested professional whitening brand. With the extensive research, data and results, it is clinically proven to whiten teeth up to eight shades in 45 minutes. This Philips Zoom! teeth whitening American brand uses blue LED light to accelerate the whitening procedure. Its dentist kit is complete with gels that improve lusters, protects enamel at reduced sensitivity.

2. Opalescence home bleaching

Opalescence tooth whitening system is another brand that is very effective and has been on the marketing for 25 years. It has gain the trust of many when it comes to home bleaching. It is an affordable whitening product that can transform teeth to an increased brighter whiteness. Opalescence tooth whitening gel contains potassium nitrate and fluoride (PF) which helps maintain the health of enamel throughout the whitening process. It is formulated to prevent dehydration and shade relapse. Home bleaching with Opalescence can be worn day or night.

3. Philips Zoom! DayWhite or NiteWhite

The take-home kit by Philips Zoom is called DayWhite and NiteWhite. The success of their in-office teeth whitening treatment has garnered recognition around world with 2 concentration use type.

Philips Zoom DayWhite Hygroden Peroxide. For people who would like to narrow down the time of whitening procedure at home, this is the best option for you. It is worn for just 30 minutes per day.

Philips Zoom NiteWhite Carbamide Peroxide. It delivers maximum results for individuals who don’t mind a longer wear time. Whitening occurs while you sleep. This option is very convenient specially for people who are always busy in the morning or the whole day and does not have extra time for another errand.

Home bleaching is an option where consistency and patience are needed. You will require to perform the bleaching multiple times following proper way of doing it. Results are visible after a few days.

7 teeth whitening tips

Visit your dentist every 4-6 months specially for full mouth cleaning, scaling & polishing.
Practice good oral hygiene, brushing and flossing are integral part of preventing cavity, tooth staining and buildup of plaque that can lead to more dental issues
Use tooth paste product that are gentle and intended for improving the color of your teeth.
Consensus review does not mean it works magic for all or it is safe. Remember not all people has good reaction with every whitening product and make sure that it is approved by your government to be used.
You are what you eat and drink, might be cliché however partly it is true. There are food & beverages that can affect our teeth color. When brushing your teeth please include your tongue to be cleaned thoroughly.
Don’t SMOKE or Quit SMOKING. It is generally not good for the health and can damage your smile.
Be consistent and patience in achieving the desired appearance of your smile, consult with your qualified dentist they know what is good for you