Sparkling! - Bite Dental...Leave trays in for at least one hour or overnight. Do not drink, eat or smoke while the trays are in. Remove trays and rinse with cold water, replace in

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P 3221 5399 E smile @ bitedental.com.au

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Tooth bleaching is not a modern invention. Ancient Romans, for example, utilized urine and goat milk as a product to make and keep their teeth whiter! Thank goodness times have changed…

In most cases, the natural colour of teeth is within a range of light greyish-yellow shades. Teeth naturally darken over time and their appearance can be affected by the accumulation of surface stains acquired from the use of tobacco products and the consumption of certain foods or drinks. Some “stainers” are obvious but there are some you may over look…

> Tea (this includes herbal & green tea)

> Coffee

> Red wine

> Beetroot

> Soy sauce

> Curries

> Berries

> Excessive dark cola

> Mouthwash containing chlorhexidine

> Some antibiotics – especially tetracycline

Most bleaching products are peroxide-based gels. The majority of these utilise carbamide peroxide which reacts with water to form hydrogen peroxide. Carbamide peroxide has about a third of the strength of hydrogen peroxide.

This means that a 15% solution of carbamide peroxide is roughly equivalent to a 5% solution of hydrogen peroxide. Clinical studies support the safety and effectiveness of home-use bleaching gels when used appropriately.

How does it work?Our teeth are porous, like a really fine pumice stone, so over time some the surface stain particles get absorbed and accumulate within the internal porosities of our teeth. The peroxide oxidizing agent penetrates the porosities in the rod-like crystal structure of enamel and bleaches stain deposits in the dentin. Just like the way you bleach your tea cups!

However, not all tooth discolourations respond to tooth-bleaching treatments. Individuals contemplating tooth-bleaching should consult with a dentist to determine the cause of the tooth discolouration and to determine whether a bleaching treatment will have the desired result. This step is especially important for patients with fillings, root canal treatments, crowns and/or with extremely dark stains on the anterior teeth.

Regular check-ups, cleans and polishes will keep your newly whitened teeth in peak

condition. If you have any questions about your whitening kit please call the studio.

A bit about bleach…

Sparkling!Instructions for

at home whitening

Brush and floss teeth as normal..

Place a small drop of whitening gel into each tooth section of trays. You should use approximately 1/3 to 1/2 tube of gel per session (ie: 1 tube = 2 nights bleaching).

Insert trays into mouth.

Wipe any excess gel that extrudes from trays with face washer. If gel is on the gums for extended time it can cause some irritation.

Leave trays in for at least one hour or overnight. Do not drink, eat or smoke while the trays are in.

Remove trays and rinse with cold water, replace in protective container. Brush teeth as normal with sensitive toothpaste.

Repeat this process every day for 7—10 days.

Things to know > You may experience some sensitivity after a few days.

This is quite common and will usually be slight and temporary. If this does occur, refrain from using the bleaching treatment for a day then commence again as usual. Use the sensitive toothpaste provided. If sensitivity persists, call us and we can make some further suggestions to help.

> The effectiveness of tooth whitening varies with each individual so you are in control of the result—if you are happy after five days, stop; if you need to continue for an extra week, keep going! Stop when you are happy with the colour.

> For the duration of treatment you are advised to reduce consumption of coffee, tea and red wine and do not eat berries or curries for the duration of your treatment— darker foods can interfere with the process and make it harder to whiten teeth.

> Some teeth do not bleach evenly. This occurs particularly on the lower pre-molar teeth around gum recession. Here, the enamel bleaches well but the exposed dentine does not whiten as significantly.

Love your new look teethYou’ve got the kit, now learn how to make and keep those pearlies gleaming.

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What next?When you have achieved the whiteness you require, please keep your bleaching trays so they can be used for ‘top-up’ treatments. Some patients may never need to repeat the process, however if you feel your teeth are becoming stained again the treatment can be repeated for a night or two.

The best maintenance approach is to put your trays in for 1-2 nights immediately following your check-up polish with the hygienist!