What Is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening, known as bleaching, is the process of lightening discolouration caused by external factors, or the tooth's own colour, with whitening gels. White teeth are something many people ask for today and are aesthetically very important. With developing technologies, teeth whitening can be carried out in the clinic by dentists up to the desired degree of whiteness.

Teeth whitening, one of the most requested procedures in smile design, can be applied to any healthy tooth. The whitening method and the number of sessions are decided by the dentist in line with the patient's wishes.

Why does tooth colour change?

Tooth colour can change because of many different factors. Diet, antibiotic use and systemic factors are the first that come to mind.

As tooth enamel wears over time, the dentine layer underneath is exposed and the teeth turn yellow. Because the dentine layer is yellower than the enamel, colour changes can be seen as patients get older and their teeth wear.

Discolouration can appear especially when foods and drinks that stain the teeth are consumed in large amounts. Tea, coffee and cigarettes are examples. Likewise, consuming a lot of acidic foods and not caring for the mouth properly allows bacterial plaque to turn into tartar over time, which causes discolouration of the teeth.

Some genetic factors and medications can also cause discolouration of the teeth.

How is teeth whitening done?

Two methods are most commonly used for teeth whitening. The first is in-office whitening, applied by the dentist in the clinic; the second is home whitening, in which the patient applies the whitening agents at home.

In-office whitening, the most effective method, achieves more effective whiteness in a short time, and the result also lasts longer. Tartar cleaning must be done before whitening. In patients whose gums are not healthy, whitening will not be enough unless the gum problem is treated first.

In home whitening, the patient whitens their teeth at home using trays made specifically for them from impressions of their mouth. This method gives effective results over a longer period.