Laser Teeth Whitening

There's a grand old saying that I've made up. "Laser teeth whitening rocks!" Out of all of the professional methods of whitening your teeth, laser teeth whitening is probably one of the coolest available. Not only is it quicker than most procedures, it is also one of the most thorough, and symptom free teeth whitening options available to the public. What I want to share with you comes in 3 sections of this post:

• Why Teeth Get Discolored
• The Procedure
• The First Days Home

No more of the introduction, let's get down to the nitty gritty of laser teeth whitening...

• Why Teeth get Discolored:

It's important to know why your teeth get a certain color, because it can help you understand the ways to keep your teeth healthy, and also, how to keep any whitening treatments you may get to last a little longer. Years of wear and tear, food, and bad habits (such as cigarette smoking, tobacco use, dark sodas, and coffee) can create discolorations or stain a person's teeth. Teeth are somewhat porous (like wood - sort of), and they can often times soak up the colors in foods and drinks.

Discoloration also becomes apparent as a person ages. Tooth enamel becomes more absorbent as we age, and the more time we have to eat and drink, they begin to attract even more stains. So teeth whitening or bleaching has become popular and a normal part of cosmetic dentistry, to enhance a smile. The first, step, however, is maintaining tooth health and hygiene, but it never hurts to learn the basics.

• The Procedure:

If, however, you caught this post too late (and if you're old enough to read, and understand the sarcasm, you are already to late), then you might be wondering how to get the deep stains out. Well, before you get into the car and drive to get one of those whitening kits (which can be a burden and rather uncomfortable - plus, let's face it, you look goofy with them in your mouth), let us look at laser teeth whitening, also called "laser bleaching."

Laser bleaching is super-easy and is typically done at dentist offices or cosmetic dental places where they actually know what they're doing. It rarely takes that long to complete a few sessions (to gain the desired stain-free white you crave). First, if he or she is worth anything, your cosmetic dentist will clean your teeth and remove any plaque ahead of the whole process. Then a clear plastic tray that is filled with tasty (*giggle*) whitening gel and is then placed over your teeth. After you uncomfortably sit waiting for the gel to work its magic, an awesome tool is used to shoot a laser through the gel and into your teeth. I have two theories on this, and there are two ways that this method works:

1. The laser activates the ingredients in the gel, which bleaches all of the nasty stains that your teeth have grabbed over time.
2. There are small crystals that the laser bounces off of, and deep cleans your teeth.
3. A mixture of both.

Talk with your dentist to see what his/her procedure includes. And then leave a comment so that I can make sure my information is accurate. :D

• The First Days Home:

Will it hurt? No. Not at all. That is partly why laser teeth whitening is growing in appeal. However, you do need to know that there might be SOME adverse effects. You may temporarily experience some tooth sensitivity to hot, cold, or excessively sweet substances, but fret not, this will go away within the first couple of days. Also, please be sure to talk to your cosmetic dentist about any allergens you may have to the chemical within the gel that they use in the procedure.

As you can see, laser teeth whitening is actually a very simple process, doesn't take very long, and has very little adverse reactions accommodated with it. Keep in mind, though that laser teeth whitening is a somewhat more expensive procedure than other treatments, but it is also a whole lot faster. I hope you enjoyed my post, and please, if this entry helped you out, comment! Take care!