How Whitening Works
Most whitening products work by one of two ways; the first is from the inside out by chemical means, and the other uses the physical action of abrasion on the surface of the tooth to remove stains. The chemical that is most often used is a form of hydrogen peroxide and the physical abrasion that is currently popularized is charcoal.
How Charcoal Whitening Works
Charcoal products use the physical action to remove stains from the surface of enamel. The question that remains is how abrasive it is to enamel. After looking at the studies using charcoal, it is at the very least plausible that charcoal could lead to problems such as weakening enamel. Although at this point the studies are inconclusive, with the possibility of weakening enamel and the relative newness of the charcoal products, River Street Dental is not recommending them at this time.
What Do You Recommend for Whitening?
At home or take home whitening products that use hydrogen peroxide are recommended by Dr. Carroll at River Street Dental. These products have been used for over 30 years to effectively and efficiently whiten teeth and when used as directed, are not harmful to tooth enamel. Imprints of your teeth are taken and then custom-fitted trays are made for you to take home to complete the tooth whitening process.
Some key benefits of whitening are:
- Corrects brown, yellow, and mottled tooth staining
- Works on people of all ages
- Restores brightness and life to "dull" smiles
Complimentary Smile Consultation
Give us a call to set up your complimentary smile consultation today! We will discuss whitening and any other esthetic options, such as Invisalign or recontouring that you may be interested in.
Last Update: May 10, 2018 10:53 am CDT
