Medicare magazine

There is little doubt that people have taken a great interest in having a brighter smile, and as a result, there has been a surge in popularity for a home teeth whitening system. It’s no secret to anyone that pays any attention, that, over time, human teeth naturally loose their brilliance and become darker. This darkening is due to the absorption of what are called chromomeric agents. Chromomeric agents are being defined as “any additives, dyes or chemicals in a food or beverage that causes discoloration of teeth.” The following are some common examples:
* Tea
* Coffee
* Some sodas
* Tobacco
* Red wine
* Medications, such as Tetracycline and minocycline.
The basis of the home based teeth whitening system is that it replicates the kind used in dental offices in that it relies on different peroxides to effectively bleach the color out of your teeth. Most commonly home teeth bleaching consists of using a plastic tray that is shaped to fit comfortably around the teeth, allowing the peroxides to soak into the enamel for extended periods of time. Some people even opt to leave the tray in over night, while they sleep.
The success of systems like this can vary from product to product based on a number of factors. It is saving to say though that at least some amount of whitening does take place. Those factors include a person’s commitment to using the tray repeatedly over a period of time. This single thing is probably the most important factor, but also the cause of the discoloration plays a major role. Some people just naturally have darker teeth, and this inherent color difference is hard to bleach out. The kinds of stains that come with age due to chromomeric agents like coffee, however, can be expected to disappear more effectively using a peroxide based teeth whitening system.
Additionally, there is another, different type of home based teeth whitening system that involves applying adhesive plastic strips across your teeth, instead of using a tray. The idea here is essentially the same as using the tray method, in that the strips contain the same chemicals that bleach out the discoloration of your teeth. The upside is that many find the strip bleaching system to be more comfortable than the tray. The downside with the strips is that they often fail to bleach teeth evenly, leaving the edges more than the Middles discolored.
The single greatest benefit of the home based teeth whitening system is that it is much cheaper than the same treatment you would pay for at a dentist. There are some minor concerns in using the home systems though, and any customer should be aware of what they are before buying. Tooth sensitivity is the area where people most often have a complaint. Look for a home teeth whitening system that not only focuses on getting your teeth sparkling white, but also goes out of its way to assure that sensitivity issues are addressed.