The process of teeth whitening has grown both in popularity and availability. The demand for cleaner looking, whiter teeth has spurred an incredible amount of growth in the industry, so that now you can have your teeth whitening done by a professional or do it yourself at home with an over the counter kit. These advancements and ease of access is very fortuitous in the modern world, where we have been given access to a large number of products that could potentially stain or discolor our teeth. All products contain some kind of coloring agent, be it natural or chemical in nature, some will stain more than others.
The top products on the list that are responsible for, and can, discolor your teeth include things we eat and drink every day like coffee, tea, soy sauce, berries, cola, and energy drinks. Coffee is one of the most widespread of these, not because it is more potent than the other but because of how many people drink coffee in America. To give you an idea, there are over 53 thousand coffee shops in the country, which will serve 54% of the adult population at least one cup of coffee every single day. Rich in chromogens, coffee can easily stain your teeth. It is the widespread proliferation of products like coffee, which is not even the worse product when it comes to tooth discoloration, has resulted in an increased demand for oral hygiene and teeth whitening solutions.
The chemical process behind whitening.
Chemicals make teeth whitening possible. These chemicals influence your teeth into looking a lot whiter, and so you should exert a level of caution when applying home teeth whitening solutions. We have two simple recommendations for people who want to do the whitening themselves. First, we recommend that you speak with a dentist about the frequency with which you should whiten. All whitening solutions come with a warning against frequent use. This is because of the chemicals and that your enamel needs some time to adjust before you can whiten again. While this may be frustrating to some people, who want to maintain their beautiful pearly whites all the time, it is safer in the long run for your teeth. Second, we ask that you visit a dentist prior to whitening your teeth. This allows the dentist, us, to check your teeth for any underlying problems that may be made worse or irritated by the teeth whitening chemicals. A quick check up and advice can save you much trouble over time.
Why teeth look white –
Your teeth reflect natural light. They are like 100% of all objects on earth, which get their color based on the angle at which they reflect the white light. When discoloration or stains change the angle of reflection, the teeth appear to be less white. In order to correct this we, and all teeth whitening solutions, use a formula that oxidizes the teeth so that they are whiter. The peroxide is quickly absorbed by the enamel, releasing free radicals in the organic chemical make-up of the teeth. These free radicals make the teeth appear more colorless, and hence whiter.