Orthodontist explained the difference between home and office teeth whitening

The desire to lighten the shade of teeth is one of the most popular aesthetic requests in the world. At the same time, there is an opinion that bleaching is an allegedly unsafe procedure. This myth was dispelled by Andrey Zhuk, an orthodontist of the highest category and founder of the OrthoLike clinic, in a conversation with Izvestia on August 24.

"There are four main methods to influence the color of teeth, and one of the most effective is professional oral hygiene at the dentist. This procedure helps to remove the sticky film from the surface of the teeth, which is formed from saliva and adheres to the pigments of tea, coffee, coloring products. As a result, the enamel darkens, acquiring a gray-yellowish tint. It turns out that professional cleaning is the safest and fastest method of brightening the surface of teeth," he said.

According to the expert, you can maintain the effect at home by choosing the right toothpaste. It is incorrect to call them bleaching. Such pastes have an increased cleansing effect, removing the same film due to special components. Among them are abrasive particles that provide mechanical cleaning, enzymes that break down the film and thus lighten teeth, or oxidants based on, for example, low—concentration hydrogen peroxide, which neutralize plaque on teeth.

The doctor emphasized that professional cleaning and the use of special toothpastes only lighten the surface, but do not change the color of the teeth. As for bleaching, it can be either professional at home or clinical in the dentist's chair. Each has its own characteristics, pros and cons.

"As part of home bleaching, thin transparent mouth guards are made for the patient and a special gel is given. The gel is applied in mouth guards, and they are put on the teeth at night or worn for an hour in the morning and evening. Hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide in the gel are components that can change the color of teeth. At the level of chemical reactions, peroxide affects the structure of the enamel, without affecting its strength, but significantly lightening it," said Zhuk.

According to the expert, the main advantage of professional home bleaching is stability. The effect lasts virtually a lifetime. At the same time, the shades of bleaching can be different and slightly roll back after the course.

Themselves with fillings: Russians "treat" teeth at home instead of visits to dentists

Self-medication kits from the Internet threaten the development of infections, tooth loss and bone damage, doctors warn

In addition, the enamel becomes snow-white after such bleaching, and after two or three months it may slightly regain its color, but it does not return to its original color. The doctor also noted that this method, despite the use of professional tools, is easy to use and safe. Another advantage is the lower cost compared to bleaching at the dentist. The latter, however, has its advantages.

"Bleaching at the dentist involves the use of the most effective substances in high concentrations. The doctor carefully monitors the process, because the gel used in the process is very active, and its effect is enhanced by special lamps. Sometimes, during bleaching, a person has hypersensitivity of the teeth, so the dentist must regulate the intensity of gel activation," concluded Zhuk.

Earlier, on August 4, dentist, maxillofacial surgeon Veronika Melekhova spoke about the dangers of fillings from marketplaces for dental treatment. According to the dentist, during the installation of the filling, doctors remove caries and treat its complications, sometimes restoring the shape of the tooth with a filling. All this is done in sterile conditions, not to mention the constant disinfection of the treatment site. When a person tries to put a seal himself, he does not pay attention either to the tooth disease or to proper disinfection.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.