Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is one of the most common cosmetic dental procedures. Teeth whitening is the easiest way to improve your smile.

Teeth whitening in Vilnius is perfect for anyone whose teeth are discoloured.

Teeth whitening is not a new procedure worldwide. The use of hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth dates back more than a hundred years. Scientifically, tooth whitening with hydrogen peroxide was first proposed by the American dentist Westlake in 1895 in the American Journal of Dental Science.

Many different substances have been tested for teeth whitening, but nothing has been found that is better than “good old” hydrogen peroxide or urea peroxide (a weak form of hydrogen peroxide). All modern whitening techniques use essentially the same chemical, just in different varieties and strengths. Many studies carried out in different countries confirm that hydrogen peroxide whitening of healthy teeth is safe and does not alter the structure of the tooth or the surrounding tissues. Although there are many myths about the harmfulness of teeth whitening, they do not correspond to the truth, on the contrary, it is the safest cosmetic dentistry procedure. Of course, teeth whitening must be carried out in accordance with the specified rules and conditions, and must be preceded by an examination by a whitening specialist dentist. Today, 92% of patients in the USA whiten their teeth.

First of all, it is worth noting that some individuals have darker bone colour. In this case, it is not worth bleaching the teeth very much, i.e. lightening the bone, as the result will not be natural. Of course, this does not mean that the teeth should not be taken care of. Give them as much attention as they need to stay healthy. Then they will be beautiful too. Cheap teeth whitening is mostly necessary because of the everyday foods we eat that change the colour of our teeth. The biggest irritants are: coffee, black tea, red wine, cigarettes, lemonade, sweets and other similar foods. It’s not just the colour of your teeth that is affected, but also the teeth themselves. Regular oral hygiene can reduce discolouration to some extent. However, if you don’t take the time to maintain your teeth regularly, teeth whitening in Vilnius is the best choice.

Teeth discolouration is also known to be caused by poor oral hygiene. When plaque is not removed properly, tartar “builds up” and black spots appear on teeth. Therefore, we recommend paying attention to the enamel, taking vitamins, and avoiding substances that harm the teeth, such as fluoride, which weakens the enamel.

There are two types of teeth whitening procedures at the Pilėnė clinic:

• teeth whitening with caps (at home)
• laser teeth whitening (in-office)

Both laser and cap teeth whitening are good and effective, but cap teeth whitening requires more effort and patience, and one visit to the dentist’s office is all it takes. However, laser teeth whitening is about twice as expensive as at-home capping. However, any teeth whitening treatment will help to achieve the desired result, i.e. to lighten the colour of your teeth and give them a natural look.

Smoking, coffee, tea, red wine and various colouring foods reduce the whitening effect over time. Therefore, after laser teeth whitening, the patient is given a cap to maintain the resulting shade. It is enough to put on the caps for 3 hours once every six months and you will be able to enjoy a beautiful smile for a long time.

There are other ways of whitening teeth – special strips, varnishes, whitening pastes, etc., but these are less effective. Whitening toothpastes remove plaque from the surface of the tooth but do not chemically whiten. So both whitening toothpastes and professional cleaning can remove coloured plaque from the teeth, which can make them lighter, but this is not teeth whitening. If you want to change the shade of a tooth, you need to bleach it chemically.

Peroxide is usually effective in brightening teeth, but there is no magic whitening treatment that can guarantee snow-white teeth for everyone. The effect of teeth whitening is always individual. It depends on the structure of the tooth, the thickness of the enamel and the type of pigment. There are cases when teeth are difficult to whiten.

When should you not whiten your teeth?

Do not whiten teeth with worn enamel, gingivitis or periodontitis. It is recommended to postpone this procedure for pregnant women, lactating women and persons under 18 years of age. Milk teeth are not bleached, and it is not recommended to bleach those with very sensitive gums, nor are dentures. If you suffer from periodontitis, the first step is to deal with this oral problem and cure it, and only then should you go to a dental clinic that provides teeth whitening services. Be aware that fillings and crowns are not whitening and may need to be replaced or adjusted after whitening. If you think that home teeth whitening is the right service for you, make sure you consult your dentist, who will make recommendations after assessing your physical condition.

• While specializing in laser cosmetic dentistry, we offer laser procedures only when necessary, not when we can provide alternatives.
• We were among the first in Lithuania to provide teeth whitening service (since 2004).
• We have tried many teeth whitening techniques and selected only the most effective and safest.
• On request for more rapid effect – laser teeth bleaching can be done in one visit, equivalent to two weeks of bleaching at home. Laser bleaching is maximally quick bleaching method – 20 minutes of bleaching gel application is enough. Laser speeds up the chemical reaction and reduces teeth bleaching time.

Teeth whitening will leave your teeth beautiful and healthy. However, over time, diet causes the teeth to lose their whiteness again, so, as we have already mentioned, we recommend that you use a mouthguard in order to enjoy a white smile. In addition, we suggest avoiding those foods that have staining properties, which we discussed earlier. White wine should be substituted for red wine, coffee or black tea can be drunk through a straw, and lemonades with a high sugar content should be avoided altogether. They are not only bad for the appearance of your teeth, but also for your teeth themselves. We also suggest that you choose toothpaste that is as natural as possible and avoid toothpastes that are very high in fluoride. You can always consult your dentist for the most suitable dental care products. You should also have regular oral hygiene, ideally once every six months. Of course, you should also pay as much attention as possible to your own daily oral hygiene: brush your teeth twice a day and use mouthwash, as it reaches plaque that is difficult to reach with a toothbrush. Also visit your dentist twice a year to have your teeth examined and to check for cracks and holes that need treatment.