Everything You Need To Know About Teeth Whitening and Bleaching

Do you want to get rid of your paled and stained teeth. Do you really wish to have a bright smile? If yes, this comprehensive guide could be useful for you. 

When it comes to teeth whitening, you mainly have two options; In-Office teeth whitening and At-Homes teeth whitening. Both these options are effective in whitening your teeth. You can choose any of these options depending on your teeth whitening requirements and preferences. 

These whitening treatments or procedures excessively use hydrogen peroxide-based bleaching agents, which are the primary teeth whitening chemical. The longer you will keep hydrogen peroxide-based bleaching agent applied on the surface of your teeth, the whiter and brighter teeth you will get. However, suppose this chemical is relatively high; in that case, it is better to keep it over the teeth for a shorter time. It can dehydrate your teeth and trigger tooth sensitivity.  

In-office-based teeth whitening treatment contains 15% to 43% hydrogen peroxide, while at-home teeth whitening includes 3% to 20% hydrogen peroxide. It means in-office-based teeth whitening treatment and procedures are more effective than at-home whitening kits.

In-Office Based Teeth Whitening and Bleaching 

In-office teeth whitening treatment is performed by whitening dentists in McKinney TX. It is mainly performed in two different ways; ZOOM whitening (sometimes also called laser whitening) and tray bleaching. 

ZOOM Whitening- The ZOOM whitening treatment method is the most effective way to whiten and brighten discolored teeth. The dentist does it by using a laser whitening system.

With this teeth whitening method, you can get 5 to 8 shades of whiter and brighter teeth within one or two hours. It is the fastest way to get a shining white smile.

The ZOOM whitening treatment is ideal for those dental patients who want to get immediate whitening results. However, this method is not entirely safe for dental health as it can lead to certain side-effects. 

It increases the teeth' temperature, leading to sensitivity issues, and sometimes burns the gums. If you choose this option, it can be risky for you. So, it would be best if you first consult with your concerned dentist. 

Tray Bleaching- In-office-based tray bleaching method is the most popular and preferred teeth whitening treatment. In most whitening dental clinics, this method is used as a primary teeth whitening treatment. 

While using this method, a whitening dentist uses a combination of custom-made trays and whitening gel. He/she places the whitening gel on the custom-made tray and then perfectly places that tray on the patient's teeth for 30 to 60 minutes. In this period, the peroxide in the gel breaks down, and hydroxy radicals start interacting with the teeth' surface. This process helps in removing the yellowness and stains from the teeth and brings the natural shine to the front. 

This in-office-based tray bleaching method can give you eight shades of whiter and brighter teeth. However, for that, you will have to take several 30 to 60 minutes treatment sessions with your whitening dentist. 

In-office-based tray bleaching is a perfect teeth whitening treatment for those dental patients who can afford multiple dental office visits with a 30 to 60 minutes treatment session with a whitening dentist. 

Tray bleaching has no side-effects if it is done appropriately. You can also perform it at your home at your own convenience. 

At-Home Teeth Whitening 

At-Home teeth whitening option is especially for those dental patients who prioritize convenience more than anything else. The patient itself performs this type of whitening treatment at its own convenience at home. Sometimes, a patient's friend or family members can perform this teeth whitening procedure to make it convenient.  

At-home whitening treatment and procedures can be performed using many different teeth whitening kits and over-the-counter products, such as whitening strips, whitening toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. You can get these teeth whitening kits and over-the-counter products only from whitening dentists. You will not find these products in your local market. 

This teeth whitening method involves: 

• Tray Bleaching 

• Paint-On Teeth Whiteners

• Teeth Whitening Stripes

• Teeth Whitening Toothpaste and Mouthwash 

Out of these At-Home teeth whitening methods, tray bleaching has been the most effective and fastest teeth whitening solution. If you want to choose At-Home teeth whitening, you should select tray bleaching. It would be the best option for you. 

Which Option Should You Choose? 

Considering the effectiveness and benefits of an in-office-based whitening solution, it won't be wrong to say that in-office-based whitening treatment is the best option for you. It would be best if you consider it over an at-home teeth whitening kit. However, it also depends on your requirements and preferences. 

For example- if you are not convenient with having multiple dental office visits for treatment, in-office-based whitening is not perfect for you. In this type of case, you can opt for at-home whitening treatment.  

In the end, we hope this piece of information has been interesting and useful for you. For such more qualitative and informative pieces of reading on dental health, keep in touch with us. 

Cavities In Kids: What Do You Need To Know To Prevent Another One In Future

Tooth decay or cavity is the breakdown of a tooth's enamel, a hard outer surface present on a tooth. Tooth decay could lead to cavities, which means it could lead to holes in the teeth. This thing gets serious when your child gets cavities as it questions your care. It could be dreading news for you. Please don't blame yourself as it is not your fault at all. 

Tooth decay is caused by bacteria that are formed when food containing carbohydrates is left on the teeth. It includes food items such as raisins, candy, milk, soda, fruit juices, cereals, and bread. Bacteria in your mouth convert leftover food residues inside your mouth into acid. The combination of food, bacteria, saliva, and acid forms a substance known as plague. Plaque sticks to the teeth, and with time acids forming inside your mouth will eat away the tooth enamel, resulting in cavities in your child's tooth.  

To get out of this problem and save the tooth from damage, you must consult pediatric dentistry McKinney. Find a reputable dentist and let him/her see the tooth to find your child's decaying tooth's exact situation.

What Are The Conditions That May Put Your Child At Risk Of Tooth Decay?

Though bacteria are present in every child’s mouth, it would not be wrong to say that every child is at risk for tooth decay. But the below conditions may put your child at high risk for it:

• High levels of the bacteria that result in cavities

• High sugar and starch diet

• Limited or no fluoride water supply

• Poor oral hygiene

• Less saliva flow than normal

 What Are The Symptoms of Cavities in Children?

When a tooth develops decay and cavities, symptoms may vary from one child to the other. Here are some common ways:

• You may witness white spots on the affected areas. These spots mean that the enamel of your child's tooth has started to break down. This may cause sensitivity in the teeth.

• An early cavity may seem to be on the tooth. It will appear light brown in color.

• With time, the cavity becomes deeper and turns a darker shade of brown or even black.

As already mentioned, the symptoms of tooth decay may vary from one child to another. Generally, cavities don't always cause symptoms. When you take your child to the dentist, he/she finds it. But if in case you child feels:

• Pain in the area around the tooth

• Experience sensitivity to certain food items such as hot or cold drinks, sweets, and others

Both situations confirm that your child has a cavity that needs proper treatment.

How To Diagnose Tooth Decay In A Child?

A specialist of pediatric dentistry McKinney can diagnose your child's tooth decay based on:

• Understanding the complete history of your child

• Proper examination of your child's mouth

• Dental X-rays

How To Treat Tooth Decay In A Child?

Tooth decay treatment in children entirely depends on your child's age, symptoms, and general health. It also depends on the severity of the child's dental conditions.

In most cases, treatment necessitates removing the decayed part of the tooth, which is later replaced with a filling. Fillings are materials placed in the tooth to repair damage caused by tooth decay. These fillings are known as restorations. There are different types of fillings:

Direct restorations: In this type, the filling is directly placed into a prepared hole. The fillers used in this type of restoration are made out of silver, acrylic acids, fine glass powders, or resin. They are often tooth-colored. This type of restoration can be completed in a single visit

Indirect restorations: In this type of restoration, you need to visit your dentist more than once for treatment. This restoration includes veneers, crowns, inlays, onlays, and bridges. These are constructed with ceramics, composites, gold, or base metal alloys. All these materials look like natural tooth enamel.

Essential Points About Tooth Decay In Children

Tooth decay, as already mentioned, is the breakdown of tooth enamel. It could lead to holes in the teeth termed cavities.

• Bacteria in the mouth cause tooth decay. These bacteria form a sticky substance known as plaque that can eat away your tooth's enamel.

• Poor oral hygiene can also result in tooth decay.

• A dentist can identify tooth decay through X-rays and an exam.

• Treatment involves the removal of the decayed part of the tooth and replacing it with a filling.

How To Prevent Tooth Decay In A Child?

Check out some simple steps below to prevent tooth decay in your child:

• Make sure you brush your child's teeth every day. Make it a routine to avoid cavities and the growth of bacteria in the mouth.

• Brush the teeth, tongue, and gums twice a day. If your child brushes his or her teeth, keep a watch on them.

• If your child is younger than 3 years old, use only a small amount of toothpaste.

• Make sure your child eats a well-balanced diet. Keep a check on their sugar intake or snacks that are sticky such as candy, cookies, and cake.

• For bedtime bottles using children, only put water in it. Formula or juice may lead to tooth decay.

Make sure you schedule routine dental cleanings and examinations for your child so that you will be aware of the status of your child's dental health.

How You Should Be Always Prepared For Dental Emergencies

Have you ever thought of how you would handle yourself when you accidentally meet a dental emergency? Maybe never, because dental emergencies are not very common. They normally occur due to a sudden fall, a sudden slip, and a complicated dental disease. They are different from normal dental problems. 

The normal dental problems include discolored & stained, misaligned, and crooked & crowded teeth. Normally, we can live comfortably and easily perform our daily activities if we have these dental problems. But it is not the same with dental emergencies.

Dental emergencies are those dental problems that need immediate attention and treatment in order to alleviate severe pain, stop continuous bleeding, and reduce inflammation. This includes broken teeth, knocked out teeth, gum bleeding, tooth pain, swollen gums, etc. 

Practically, it is not possible to always be prepared for a dental emergency because we don’t know when and how it will occur or if it will occur or not. But yes, if we focus on the basics and some precautionary and preventive tips, we can always be a little prepared to handle dental emergencies. 

Here in this piece of writing, we have compiled a few precautionary and preventive tips that can help you be prepared to handle your dental emergencies. Let’s have a look at those precautionary and preventive tips. 

Try Not To Put Yourself in a Dental Emergency 

Avoiding dental emergencies is the best way to handle dental emergencies. However, it is hardly possible. Yes, you can avoid a few dental emergencies which are in your hands such as severe pain and gum bleeding that occur due to poor dental hygiene. But you can’t avoid those dental emergencies that occur due to a sudden fall, slip, and accident. The only thing you can do to avoid this type of dental emergency is to be careful and try not to put yourself in such situations that have higher possibilities of fall, slip, and accident. 

On the other hand, by maintaining good oral hygiene you can avoid those dental emergencies which are in your hands.  

Keep a Dental First Aid Kit At Your Home 

Keeping a dental first aid kit always with you is not practical, but yes you can always keep it at your home. It normally carries adhesive bandages, elastic bandages, lubricants, thermometers, antibiotics, gauze, absorbent compress, medical tape, tweezers, scissors, cold packs, safety pins, antiseptic applicators, latex gloves, tongue blades, pain killers, anesthesia, and a splint. These all tools and medicines are very effective to handle dental emergencies as they provide instant relief to dental patients. 

So, keep a dental first aid kit always with you at your home. By doing so, you will always be prepared to handle any type of dental emergency anytime. 

Make Use of Home Remedies 

During dental emergencies, if you contact emergency dentists in McKinney, they will take at least 10 to 15 minutes (depending on the distance) to reach your location. On the other hand, if you travel to visit your nearest emergency dental clinic, it will also take at least 15-30 minutes (depending on the distance). During this period of time, it is very important to control the situation so that it cannot get worse with every passing minute. And to control the emergency dental situation, you must have enough knowledge and understanding of correctly using different home remedies such as ice packs, cornstarch, and baking soda. This will surely help you a lot.  

Keep in Touch With Your Family Dentist

This is the most important thing. You should always be in touch with your family dentist because you never know when you have to call him/her for handling a dental emergency. You must have every important contact details of him/her on your mobile phone or your notebook. 

If you don’t have a family dentist, then you must have the major contact details of your nearby emergency dental clinic or an emergency dentist. It will be convenient for you during dental emergencies. 

On the other hand, if you don’t have even important contact details of your nearby emergency dental clinic, then the internet is there for you. By using the internet, you can search for the contact details of emergency dentists that are nearby your location. Once you will find their contact details, save them on your mobile phone. 

So, that’s how you can keep yourself prepared for handling different types of dental emergencies. 

Stay Calm and Act Wisely 

Generally, people get panicked when they find themselves in an emergency dental situation, and due to that, they make silly mistakes which further result in worsening their dental condition. You should not do these things. Just stay calm and act wisely. 

Firstly, you should try to stop bleeding. Then you need to focus on alleviating the severe pain and inflammation. Alongside, you need to contact your family emergency dentist or nearest emergency dentist for a quick dental check-up and immediate treatment. 

So, these are a few important things you must learn and follow. By doing so, you will always keep yourself prepared to handle any type of dental emergencies. 

Modern Dental Treatments and Technologies That Make Your Dentist Visit Awesome

For most dental patients, visiting a dentist for a quick dental check-up is always a bit fearful and anxious. And for children and kids, it is no less than a nightmare. It is so because people have a perception that dental treatments are always very painful. Though it is true to some extent, but it is not the complete truth. 

These days, with the coming of modern dental treatments and technologies in modern dentistry, things have changed a lot. Now, a dentist visit is no longer painful and fearful. The dental treatments and technologies such as Invisalign, dental implants, sedation dentistry, and ozone therapy have made dentist visits comfortable and awesome for everyone. 

In this piece of writing, we will comprehensively discuss those modern dental treatments and technologies that have made dental processes less painful.  

Invisalign

Invisalign is a modernly developed and discovered teeth straightening technique. It is far better than traditional metal braces that used to be very uncomfortable and sometimes painful. Though metal braces are also used these days for teeth straightening, but Invisalign is more preferred by dentists and patients as well. 

An Invisalign treatment is a teeth-straightening treatment in which a patient wears a series of plastic-made customized clear aligners for a certain period of time (depending on the dental condition). The patient wears the aligners for at least 22 hours a day and interchanges them every two weeks. 

If we compare Invisalign with traditional metal braces, Invisalign is a more comfortable teeth-straightening treatment. 

Here are some of the top benefits of Invisalign. 

• Easy to wear

• Easy to put on teeth for 22 hours a day

• Easily removable 

• Easily interchangeable

• Almost invisible to the third person (as Invisalign are transparent)

• Faster healing process

• Easy to wash and disinfect

• Less pain in the initial stage and no pain after the initial stage

So, this is one of those dental treatments that changed your dentist visit experience a lot. Now, people usually don’t feel fear and pain while having teeth straightening treatment. 

Dental Veneers

Dental Veneers are another useful development of modern dentistry that have changed the experiences of dental patients a lot. They are thin, enamel-colored tooth shells, placed on the front teeth to give them a better shape and appearance. They are either made of porcelain or resin composite materials. 

They are the best treatment option for most cosmetic dental problems including paled and stained teeth, chipped teeth, broken teeth, and smaller-than-average teeth. 

They are more comfortable and effective than other types of cosmetic dental treatments. 

The significant benefits of dental veneers are:

• They are strong and long-lasting tooth shells

• They look completely natural

• They don’t get paled and stained easily

• They treat a number of cosmetic dental problems 

Dental Implants 

Dental Implants are a modern method of replacing a tooth or tooth root. It is an alternative to dentures, but it is far better than them. 

Basically, it forms the foundation for replacing damaged teeth from fixed or removable teeth. Dental implants are a safe, long-lasting solution for teeth replacement, and maybe the best way to get your beautiful smile back. 

They certainly changed the experience of dental patients for dentist visits for a quick dental check-up or taking a particular dental treatment.

Sedation Dentistry 

It is one of the most interesting developments of modern dentistry. It is a safe method to relax the dental patients so that they can enjoy their dental experience and forget about painful and fearful feelings. 

It involves certain safe medicines and therapies. 

Basically, dentists perform Sedation Dentistry in three effective methods that are:

Nitrous Oxide Sedation: In this Sedation Dentistry method, a dentist provides a type of inhalation therapy to the patient. It is also known as laughing gas. 

Oral Conscious Sedation: It involves a pill that provides a more profound level of calmness and deeper relaxation during dental treatment. 

NuCalm Technique: It involves a cutting-edge tool that helps dentists provide patients with deep relaxation using a revolutionary form of neuromuscular therapy. 

This is a modern dental technology that has certainly changed the dental treatment experiences of the patients. 

Ozone Therapy 

Ozone Therapy is a part of modern medicine. It is widely used in modern dentistry. It involves an energized form of oxygen that helps dentists to kill the germs and bacterias in patients’ mouths. It is completely safe and comfortable for the patients. 

DIAGNOdent  

DIAGNOdent is another amazing example of the excellence of modern dentistry. It is a small and portable laser device or tool, used for painlessly finding and treating the tiny imperfections in patients’ oral health. This is very effective especially for finding and treating cavities.

Isolite   

Isolite is a dental tool that helps patients comfortably fix their mouth in an open position and pillow their tongue. It helps patients to comfortably keep their mouth open for a longer time. It is really very useful. 

So, these are some of the top dental treatments and technologies of modern dentistry that have changed the whole scenario of visiting a dentist. 

What Dental Problems Can and Can’t Invisalign Fix

Invisalign treatment comprises plastic-made transparent aligners that are worn on the surface of teeth to fix different orthodontic problems. It is worn at least 22 hours a day during the treatment period. 

According to orthodontic experts, Invisalign treatment is the most effective treatment for most orthodontic problems. It treats faster and helps patients to get in normal condition as soon as possible after the treatment period. If we compare it with traditional metal braces, it is far better. And that’s why most dental health experts suggest Invisalign treatment to patients to treat most orthodontic problems. 

However, Invisalign can only effectively treat certain orthodontic problems. While some orthodontic problems still need specialized treatments.

In this piece of writing, we will comprehensively discuss what orthodontic problems can and cannot Invisalign fix. 

Orthodontic Problems That Invisalign Can Fix 

Invisalign is specially designed to treat certain orthodontic problems that are:

Misaligned Teeth- Misaligned teeth disturb the beauty of a beautiful smile. It also creates difficulties for eating and chewing. It occurs mainly in childhood due to different reasons. Genetics and thumb-sucking habits are two major reasons for misaligned teeth. It also occurs in kids when their jaw is too small compared to the size of their teeth. 

Invisalign treatment can treat misaligned teeth as it is designed specifically for treating these types of dental problems. It puts pressure on those teeth which are erupted on the outer side of the jaw and fix them in their right place on the jawline

To treat misaligned teeth, Invisalign takes 6-12 months. However, it highly depends on the condition of your misaligned teeth. If your dental conditions are very poor, it might be possible that Invisalign specials in McKinney suggest you take additional treatment for faster and better recovery. 

Crooked and Crowded Teeth- Crooked teeth and crowded teeth are different orthodontic problems, yet they are very similar. They ruin the beauty of your teeth as well as turn your beautiful smile into an ugly laugh. Though they are not very serious dental problems, they have a large impact on life and lifestyle. They can lower your confidence level and make you feel embarrassed in front of your friends and colleagues. And you better know embarrassments can result in stress, anxiety, and depression. That’s why it is very important to treat your crooked and crowded teeth. 

Invisalign can treat both crooked and crowded teeth. To treat crooked and crowded teeth in adults, Invisalign can take more than one year. While treating crooked and crowded teeth in children, Invisalign takes less than six months. Yes, sometimes it can take 6-12 months. So, it is always better to take Invisalign treatment for crooked and crowded teeth in the early stages.   

Overbite and Underbite-

Overbite is a dental condition in which your upper front teeth overlap your lower front teeth. A little overlapping of upper front teeth on lower front teeth is normal, but if it gets too big, it can create a lot of difficulties. With an overbite, you may feel a little pain in your jaw. 

An underbite is the opposite of an overbite. It is a dental condition in which lower front teeth overlap upper front teeth. It can create difficulties for speaking, chewing, and eating. In underbite too, you can feel some form of pain in your jaw or teeth. 

Invisalign is the perfect treatment for both overbite and underbite. It can permanently treat these bite problems within a few months. However, it will depend on the dental condition.  

Crossbite and Open Bite-

Crossbite is a dental condition in which your upper teeth and lower teeth do not properly meet together when you close your mouth. This problem can make your teeth wear down and lead to certain painful gum problems. 

Open Bite is a dental condition in which your upper teeth and lower teeth do not meet each other when you close your mouth. This can create a bite problem for you. 

Invisalign can also treat these bite problems as it pushes back teeth to permanently fix them into their right place. 

Orthodontic Problems That Invisalign Can’t Fix

Invisalign can treat most orthodontic problems, but it cannot treat all orthodontic problems due to its structure and limitations. 

For example, Invisalign can treat crooked teeth, but when it comes to rotating crooked teeth severely to straighten, Invisalign cannot do this as it is out of its potential. For doing so, the dentist needs a specialized tool or equipment. 

In the same way, Invisalign can help fill the small gaps between teeth, but when it comes to filling the large gaps, Invisalign is not the right treatment. 

Apart from this, Invisalign also cannot lower and raise the position of teeth in the jawline for correcting them.

Conclusion

Invisalign has the capability to treat a wide range of orthodontic problems including misaligned teeth, crooked and crowded teeth, overbite, underbite, crossbite, and open bite. So, it is a great option to choose Invisalign if you are facing any orthodontic problems. However, you must first consult with your dentist as he/she can suggest the best.