Teeth whitening kits. Once a treatment reserved for the rich and famous, these kits now sadly dominate the market and are advertised everywhere. This can leave us wondering who is actually trustworthy when choosing the Best Teeth Whitening Kits.
What is Teeth Whitening?
Whitening refers to treatments that make teeth lighter in color, by removing surface stains or discoloration or both. The process of whitening teeth may involve bleaching them with peroxide, toothpastes that remove plaque, tartar buildup and stains from coffee or smoking cigarettes. These processes can be done at home with products such as toothpaste or strips; by your dentist; or on top of a dental restoration.
Examples of Teeth Whitening Kits
The teeth whitening kits that dentists actually recommend are usually in the form of a tray that fits over the top of your teeth, and has a gel-like material applied to it. This gel contains hydrogen peroxide, which is a bleaching agent. As this gel is exposed to your saliva, it breaks down into peroxide, which then works its way into the pores in your enamel. The enamel absorbs it and breaks down the stains on your teeth. It is important to remember that these kits can cause sensitivity if used for a long period of time, although most people report only minor sensitivity for around a week after completing their treatment plan.
Why is a Teeth Whitening Kit Used?
Most of us have yellow or brown stains in our teeth, especially after eating a meal. This is caused by our food and beverages containing hydrogen, which causes staining to the enamel and causes color changes to the teeth. When this happens, we often brush them away too quickly or put a toothpaste on that removes stains but does not whiten them. It is for this reason why many people believe that whitening your teeth will make them whiter. This belief has led dental professionals to recommend these kits as an effective way to achieve light-colored, brighter teeth. However, this is not the case.
How does a Teeth Whitening Kit Work?
The process of teeth whitening is actually very simple. By using a teeth whitening kit that uses hydrogen peroxide, it breaks down the yellow stains on your teeth. The bleaching agent then works its way into the pores in your enamel, which absorbs it and breaks down the stains on your teeth. This can lead to lighter-colored shades more closely matching those of your natural tooth shade; however, this is not always possible due to the fact that some foods actually contain pigments that can cause discoloration and give you darker shades.
