Teeth Whitening Basics
Plano teeth whitening means cleaning, bleaching, or both. Teeth cleaning whitens teeth by removing surface stains. Bleaching means lifting the natural color off of teeth. If your teeth are naturally white, regular care and professional cleanings may be all that's needed to keep them sparkling. For darker colored teeth, bleaching may be added to lift the natural color and make teeth whiter than nature intended.
Cleaning causes teeth whitening by the removal of superficial stains on the surface of each tooth. The stains can develop from dark-colored foods and drinks, or from smoking. Stains can be removed by regular brushing, flossing, and dental hygienist cleanings.
According to the FDA, the term "bleaching" can only be used when teeth whitening involves the use of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, both of which are bleaching agents.
Stubborn food, beverage, and cigarette stains that can't be removed with routine dental care can often be removed with the addition of bleaching, especially when treated early, before the stains penetrate into the dentin.
Bleaching is the only effective teeth whitening treatment if the teeth have intrinsic stains from tetracycline, excessive fluoride, aging, or trauma. The degree and length of bleaching necessary to attain the desired degree of whiteness depends on the depth of the staining.
For severe stains, in-office bleaching treatments with a 9-40% hydrogen peroxide solution can be very effective. For less severe staining, at-home carbamide peroxide treatments can be used under a dentist's supervision. Carbamide peroxide breaks down into the equivalent of a 5% hydrogen peroxide solution that can be used long-term until the desired degree of teeth whitening in Plano is achieved.
