Dentures: Facts, Figures and Friendly Advice for Seniors

An Overview Of Teeth Whitening Strips

15 January 2015

Herman Kim

If you cannot afford to go for teeth whitening services, you can easily do it from home. There are DIY kits for teeth whitening. The most common home remedy for dealing with discoloured or stained teeth is whitening strips. The following are some facts on whitening strips.

How Do Whitening Strips Work

They contain peroxide, a bleaching component. This chemical whitens your teeth in the same manner bleach whitens clothes. It bleaches your teeth and restores the white colour of your teeth.

Most strips are made from polyethylene, a thin and elastic kind of plastic. This plastic has a peroxide coating. Certain strips have more peroxide coating than others.

You need to follow the package directions when applying the strips in order for the peroxide to have an impact on your enamel. This enables it to remove discolouration and stains that are on the teeth's surface. Some strips require that you remove them after some time, but others are not removed.

Benefits Of Whitening Strips

They are less expensive than going for a treatment in hospital. They are usually made of materials such as peroxide and plastic, which are very cheap to manufacture.

It is easy to use strips. Many kits have two strips. One for the upper teeth and another for the lower teeth. The kit also has instructions on the duration you should use the strips. Usually you are to use them twice a day for at least two weeks.

Strips provide fast results. Your teeth begin to appear whiter in a few days, and the results can last for up to four months.

Should I Brush Before Or After Using Whitening Strips?

If you do not brush before using whitening strips, there is a great likelihood that plaque and bacteria will be trapped between your teeth and the strip. You are then likely to get tooth decay or any related dental problems.

However, do not brush immediately before applying whitening strips, because they could cause irritation to your gums. You need to wait half an hour in order to apply the strips.

If you get excess gel or spots on your teeth when you remove the strips, brush after you remove the strips.

Dangers Of Using Whitening Strips

Whitening strips that have chlorine dioxide can destroy the enamel. It is the same kind of acid used for disinfecting pools. It normally whitens your teeth through eating away the surface of your enamel.

You should follow the directions for applying the strips, otherwise you risk damaging your enamel. Also avoid products which dissolve your enamel, as they can harm gum tissue. Therefore, if you experience irritation after using a particular product, stop using it.

There is a risk of swallowing hydrogen peroxide. Small amounts are not harmful but large quantities can be fatal. Try your best to avoid swallowing the gel when using strips for whitening. For more information, contact a business such as TLC Dental.

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