Tooth Whitening treatments are any of a number of cosmetic dental procedures and products that use a bleaching system to lighten discolorations and stains on the teeth. Purpose of Tooth Whitening The purpose of tooth whitening is to whiten the teeth. As we age our teeth usually become less and less white because of changes in the mineral structure of the tooth. The changes usually cause a hardening of the enamel on the tooth and many people don’t like the way their teeth look as they age. Yellowing can also be caused by bacterial problems, food, and tobacco and tooth whitening works to combat these issues so you can continue to have a white, bright smile even as you age!
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Methods of Tooth Whitening

There are many different methods of teeth whitening for consumers to choose from. Some of the most common procedures actually bleach the teeth and use products that are primarily hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. These oxidizing products are able to seep into the tooth to remove or bleach out stains and bacterial deposits. If you use the product for long enough the teeth will become quite white because even the enamel and dentine layer of the tooth are bleached. This type of tooth whitening can be done at home by using a mouth guard to hold the product on the tooth.

There is a faster way to go about tooth whitening and this can be done in your dentist’s office. In just a short period of time your dentist will use oxidizing agents in high concentration so you leave the office with whiter teeth than you had when you came in. These procedures usually require some care so that the gums and surrounding tissues do not suffer from chemical burns. Many people are going for these quick in-office treatments because they want immediate results and these in-office treatments can do just that.