What is teeth whitening all about?
The Science
Teeth whitening, also known as bleaching, is the act of removing stains from the teeth which in turn makes them look whiter. Below the enamel is the dentin layer of the tooth, which is the one that gives the tooth its color. It is here that your teeth get stained. The enamel layer is porous, so staining particles from coffee, tobacco, wine, tea, colas, etc. can seep through these pores to reach the dentin. The more these particles get through, the more stained your teeth become.
To whiten you teeth you need to get a bleaching substance to the dentin layer. The best way to bleach anything is with oxygen radicals. When hydrogen peroxide reacts, it breaks down into water and oxygen radicals. Oxygen radicals live only a fraction of a second, but for that moment they desperately look for something to react with, and stains on your teeth are the perfect pairing.
When you apply hydrogen peroxide gel to the teeth, the hydrogen peroxide breaks down on the tooth’s surface and travels through the pores in the enamel of the tooth until it reaches the dentin layer. There, the oxygen radicals react with the stained particles on the dentin and whiten them. They do not remove the staining molecules, but simply bleach them by removing their color. When you apply the right strength of hydrogen peroxide with the correct frequency and duration to the teeth, they will appear significantly whiter.
The White Diet
Make the results of your professional teeth whitening treatment last longer by following The White Diet for 24-48 hours afterwards. After a teeth whitening session, the pores of your enamel are open which make them more vulnerable to stains. It takes 24-48 hours for the pores of your enamel to close so that you can resume your regular habits.
Non-staining beverages
water; sparkling water; milk
Beverages to avoid
oJ; acidic fruit juices; tea; coffee; red wine; energy drinks
Non-staining alcoholic drinks
white wine; champagne; vodka or gin martini; vodka or gin with club soda
Alcoholic drinks to avoid
red wine; stout or dark beer
Non-staining foods
chicken; turkey; white fish; white rice; white pasta; potatoes without skin; white cheese sauces; cauliflower; cottage cheese; bananas
Foods to avoid
carrots; yams; orange colored fruits and vegetables; broccoli; spinach; green vegetables; chocolate; tomatoes; red sauces; beets; wheat bread; butter
What To Expect
Professional Cosmetic Teeth Whitening of Charleston
Results depend on variables such as gel strength, how long the gel is on your teeth, and how many back-to-back applications you receive. However, your results also depend on you! That’s right. Your habits, age, tooth porosity, natural color, and degree of stain all affect your results.
Expect the cost to be less than whitening treatments done at a dental office.
Your “Glowing Grin Girl” will either guide you during the process or perform the service for you. It’s that easy. If you can use a tooth whitening pen, you can do this!
If you choose to continue whitening after your professional session, your “Glowing Grin Girl” can give you the perfect product. As far as the gel is concerned, you can expect to take home the same kind of whitening gel from your dentist or cosmetic whitening technician.