What Does Teeth Whitening Mean?
Whitening of discolored teeth is the most popular subject of aesthetic and cosmetic dentistry. Tooth discoloration, especially in anterior teeth, disturbs the patient quite a lot. Teeth whitening treatments using gel techniques are widely used today.

Tooth color in an adult should normally be the same shade as the white of the eye. Today, however, teeth have begun to lose their white color due to many reasons. Tooth whitening, in other words "dental bleaching", is the name given to the process performed on the tooth enamel to regain the original white color of the tooth.

Why Do Teeth Lose Their White Color?
There are many reasons why teeth may lose their original white color. Factors such as smoking, excessive consumption of coffee and tea, frequent consumption of dark-colored foods, acidic beverages, fluorine ions in water, and antibiotic use are the leading causes. Some antibiotics used during the mother's pregnancy or infancy cause discoloration of the teeth.

How is Teeth Whitening Applied?
Teeth whitening process varies between one or more sessions depending on the person. In order not to damage the teeth during the procedure, some foods and beverages are dieted. For this procedure, the patients are cleaned first of all calculus, then a specially prepared gel is applied on the teeth and then the reaction of the gel is accelerated with the help of a light source. Among the light sources used, varieties that do not give any heat to the tooth and thus do not harm the tooth are preferred. In the second method, home bleaching, the whitening gel containing carbamide peroxide is applied by the patient himself with a soft plaque formed on the models obtained beforehand. Studies have shown that home practice is more successful. In the technique applied in the clinic, a whitening gel containing higher concentrations of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide is applied to the teeth in a controlled manner by the physician. This method responds faster than the home method. First of all, a more effective and successful whitening is obtained with home bleaching after the clinic.

Can Anyone Have Teeth Whitening?
Our teeth consist of many different layers, and the layer at the top that is cleaned when we brush our teeth is called tooth enamel. The gels used for whitening teeth are also made of special materials that will not harm the tooth enamel. However, the dentin layer under the enamel may have opened due to cracks in the enamel. In this case, the teeth whitening gel may damage the tooth and must be done under the control of a physician. It is not recommended for use during pregnancy, lactation and those under 18 years of age.

What Should Be Considered After Whitening?
The first thing to consider after teeth whitening is to reduce the consumption of foods such as cigarettes, coffee, tea, red wine that cause tooth staining. Limiting it completely for the first month will keep the teeth whiter for longer. You should also continue to brush and floss regularly.