teeth whitening
Get a brighter and whiter smiler in just minutes with a Beaming White Teeth Whitening treatment! Your smile is important. It’s one of the first things people notice when they meet you. A brighter, whiter smile can help you feel better about yourself and leave a lasting impression. Each treatment provides results that are, on average, 5 to 7 shades brighter! Achieve anywhere between 2-10 shades brighter in as little as 30 minutes.
Anatomy of a Tooth
Teeth have three layers: enamel, dentin, and pulp. To properly understand how the treatment works, you must understand the anatomy of a tooth.
ENAMEL: Tooth enamel is the hard, protective, outer layer. It is transparent and does not retain any stains in it. You can easily remove stains that accumulate on the surface of tooth enamel through mechanical action such as brushing and polishing. Even though enamel seems like a solid surface, it contains numerous microtubules from the surface to the dentin. Stains find their way through these tiny tubes and deposit within the dentin layer.
DENTIN: Dentin is much softer and more porous than tooth enamel. It serves as a buffer between the surface of the tooth and sensitive nerves. Dentin gives teeth their color, which is determined by a combination of natural pigment and stains. Genetics determine natural pigment. Some people have white dentin, while others have slightly yellow dentin. Some dentists claim to be able to change the natural pigment with bleaching. Theoretically, maybe it’s possible. However, we don’t make such claims and focus on bleaching stains in the dentin, not the natural dentin color.
PULP: The pulp is the innermost part of the tooth’s anatomy and contains the connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels that keep the tooth “alive” and can make it sensitive to hot, cold, cavities, and even teeth whitening. We call the small bursts of pain that people with sensitive teeth feel when they whiten their teeth, “zingers.” If you get zingers, at least you know the gel has made its way to the dentin level and is doing it’s job. However, you may need to use a milder whitening gel and/or a desensitizing gel or toothpaste.
Oxygen Radicals & Stains
Because the enamel layer is porous, staining particles from coffee, tobacco, wine, tea, etc., seep through the pores and accumulate in the dentin. The more particles that get through, the more discolored (stained) your teeth become. The best way to bleach or whiten something is with oxygen radicals. Oxygen radicals are electrically charged and ready to bond with, or oxidize, substances like stains. The most effective teeth whitening substance available today is hydrogen peroxide (HP) because it breaks down into water molecules and free oxygen radicals. Here is the molecular formula: H2O2 = H2O + O [H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) = H2O (water) + O (free oxygen radical)]
How Teeth Whitening Works
As soon as you apply hydrogen peroxide (or carbamide peroxide) tooth whitening gel to the surface of the teeth, it starts to break down. The oxygen radicals travel through the pores in the enamel until they reach the dentin layer and oxidize any stains they contact.
The higher the concentration of peroxide in the gel, the more free radicals and bleaching power. However, the higher the peroxide content, the greater the tooth sensitivity and the potential for gum irritation. The best teeth whitening gel formulations achieve the delicate balance between effectiveness and tooth sensitivity.
Beaming White makes teeth whitening gels in various strengths that achieve this balance. Their flagship product is our Advanced Whitening Kit, for professional use only, with our famous 16% hydrogen peroxide gel. With this gel, we can achieve dramatic whitening results, with little to no tooth sensitivity, in just one hour!
Potential Side Effects
The main side-effect of teeth whitening is winding up with a fabulous, beautiful, white smile. Now, in all seriousness, the following are the typical side effects of an at-home or professional teeth whitening treatment. Please be aware of these before attempting any teeth whitening treatment.
TOOTH SENSITIVITY: Depending on the type, duration and strength of the teeth whitening treatment, some people can experience some tooth sensitivity, colloquially known as “zingers”, during the first 24 – 48 hours after the whitening treatment. The stronger the gel, the higher the chance of getting zingers. Beaming White gel balances whitening power with sensitivity in order to provide amazing results with little-to-no tooth sensitivity.
These conditions may increase or prolong tooth sensitivity from bleaching treatments: already sensitive teeth, recently cracked tooth, micro-cracks, compromised enamel, some other dental conditions.
If you experience tooth sensitivity after the treatment, you can brush apply our Minerals™ Enamel Booster gel (which is a densensitizing and remineralizing gel) or brush your teeth with Sensodyne™ toothpaste to ease the discomfort. Follow this routine until tooth sensitivity goes away. With Minerals™, only a few applications would be necessary, while with Sensodyne you will probably have to brush with it for several days.
BLANCHING AND MINOR GUM IRRITATION: Blanching is when the gums turn white and possibly even sting a little after a teeth whitening treatment, particularly with a professional teeth whitening treatment. Blanching is normal and usually goes away in 5-20 minutes. Rinse your mouth well. If you experience severe irritation or blistering, stop the treatment immediately. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water and consult your doctor if desired. You may have an allergic reaction or gum disease.
CALCIUM DEPOSITS MAY SHOW UP MORE: Some people have concentrated amounts of calcium in their enamel, and this usually shows up as white spots or streaks on the teeth. These are most noticeable in children’s teeth, but as people get older and teeth get stained over time, the calcium deposits become not very noticeable. If you have calcium deposits, teeth whitening whitens them more than the rest of the teeth, and they can become quite noticeable. The deposits were always there, so the whitening gel did not create them. That said, over the next couple of weeks, the bright calcium deposits will tone down and will become much less noticeable, so most people don’t think it’s a big deal.
COLOR REGRESSION: After a teeth whitening treatment, it is normal for tooth color to regress somewhat over time. Sometimes, a noticeable amount of color can return over the days following the treatment. The best way to avoid this or limit it is by applying a liquid or gel containing hydrogen peroxide to your teeth over the next 5 days or so. The best product options for this are a touch-up pen or whitening foam with at least 3% hydrogen peroxide, such as Daily White. Certain foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, spaghetti sauce, and red wine speed up color regression. Be aware that lipstick and tobacco also stain teeth. We recommend that you follow The White Diet for at least 24 hours after a whitening treatment. You should also not eat or drink anything other than water over next 60 minutes following the end of your whitening application.
DAMAGE TO TOOTH ENAMEL: Peroxide-based teeth whitening gels penetrate tooth enamel to lift stains within dentin layer of the teeth. During a teeth whitening treatment, the enamel loses certain minerals and the enamel can be weakened ever so slightly. We highly recommend that you use a remineralizing gel immediately following a tooth whitening treatment. It is also important to follow instructions for how often it is safe to whiten your teeth, which depends on the type of whitening gel and the strength. Your dentist is best suited to advise you.
ALLERGIC-TYPE REACTION: A very small percentage of people experience an allergic reaction that manifests itself as burning and blistering of the gums or lips after using teeth whitening gel. If this occurs, discontinue use immediately, rinse the irritated area well with water, and consult your doctor or dentist if desired. Many people find that an antihistamine helps alleviate the situation.
The White Diet
Make the results of your professional or home teeth whitening treatment last longer by following The White Diet for 24 to 48 hours afterward. After a teeth whitening treatment, the pores of your enamel are open, making them more vulnerable to stains. It takes about 24-48 hours for the pores of your enamel to close so that you can resume your regular habits.
PLEASE AVOID: OJ & Acidic Fruit Juices, Tea & Coffee, Red Wine, Energy Drinks, Stout or Dark Beer, Carrots, Yams & Orange-Colored Fruits & Vegetables, Broccoli, Spinach & Green Vegetables, Chocolate, Tomatoes & Red Sauces, Beets, Wheat Bread, Butter & Margarine
Further Advice
Avoid extremely hot or cold liquids: These are dangerous to your white smile because they can change the temperature of your teeth. This temperature change (hot and cold cycling) causes your teeth to expand and contract, allowing stains to penetrate the teeth. Avoid beverages with extreme temperatures or drink them with a straw to minimize contact with your teeth.
Avoid acidic foods and beverages: Acidic foods and beverages open the pores of your enamel allowing stains to more easily penetrate your teeth. They also contribute to the erosion of your tooth enamel. Drink acidic beverages with a straw to minimize exposure to your teeth. DON’T SUCK ON LEMONS AND LIMES!
Avoid tobacco and alcohol: Daily consumption of tobacco and alcohol can rapidly reverse the results of your teeth whitening. Many alcoholic beverages have tannins that can stain the teeth. The same goes for nicotine in tobacco. This is just one more good reason to quit or cut back. DON’T CHEW TOBACCO!
Avoid deeply colored lipstick: Use smudge-proof or colorless lipstick because regular lipstick can stick to teeth and deeply colored lipsticks can stain them. Pro Tip: Blot lipstick with a tissue after application.
Use maintenance products: Use Minerals Enamel Booster to seal in results and lockout stains. Use Forever White Teeth Whitening Pen to touch up your smile as needed, before stains get a chance to settle in.