When you are born, the enamel that coats your teeth is normally milky white in color. As you age, the enamel often begins to show signs of discoloration, turning from white, to yellow or orange, even to brown in some situations. While this has always been more of a mature adult issue, the introduction of teeth whitening kits and dental bleaching has attracted a much younger age group -- teens, according to "USA Today."
Types
Before running out and investing in a tooth whitener or bleaching agent, teens and their parents should understand the differences between the two. While the bleaching process uses bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, that can lighten teeth beyond their natural color, teeth whiteners simply remove surface stains, explains the Consumer Guide to Dentistry. Whiteners contain trace amounts of bleaching agents and often come in the form of toothpastes or mouthwashes.
The Facts
Before attempting to whiten teeth on their own, teens should consult their family dentist for advice, explains TeenHealth. If you feel that your teeth are not white enough, and the dentist feels that your teeth are mature enough for whitening, he may decide to offer a professional whitening treatment. The dentist will fit you with specially made whitening trays designed specifically for your mouth. If he feels that a professional treatment is not necessary, he may prefer to steer you in the direction of a whitening toothpaste or whitening kit, which you can purchase at a pharmacy.
Solution
Before reaching for a whitening kit at the pharmacy or heading to the dentist of an expensive bleaching procedure, you may want to try a solution that is a little less drastic. Delta Dental recommends avoiding soda, coffee and tea if you want to keep your teeth bright and healthy. Also, do not smoke. Aside from the obvious health concerns surrounding smoking, avoiding cigarettes and not giving into peer pressure can also help keep teeth naturally white.
Considerations
If you are a teen or a parent of a teen who is considering the use of teeth whitening products, it is important to understand that the results of such treatments are not permanent solutions. The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide reports that teeth whitening or bleaching procedures usually last for approximately one to three years. After which, the procedure will need to be completed again.
Warnings
Teens that use whiteners and bleaches to make their teeth whiter may be doing more harm than good. This is especially true if they do not yet have all of their permanent adult teeth. Once baby teeth fall out and the adult teeth grow in, the color differences between the whitened teeth and the new teeth may be highly noticeable. Whitening adult teeth that have not fully emerged may be even more of a problem. When the teeth do rise fully above the gums, a line of demarcation between the whitened area and the natural color may be evident, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Some products can even cause the gums to recede or become painfully irritated.
References
- "USA Today": Teeth Bleaching: Teens Should be Cautious
- Consumer Guide to Dentistry: Teeth Whitening: How it Works and What it Costs
- Delta Dental: Teens and Teeth Whitening
- Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide: Tooth-Bleaching: Better Left up to a Dentist
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry: Policy on the Use of Dental Bleaching for Children and Adolescent Patients
- Teens Health: Taking Care of Your Teeth
