A pearly white smile is something that all people wish to have. Unfortunately, not everyone can flash such a smile due to certain constraints, such as missing or decaying teeth, crooked teeth, or discolored teeth. For people hailing from Vancouver, this can now be possible, thanks to the wonders of Vancouver dentistry. If the trouble that’s holding you back from achieving that winning smile is not so white teeth, then tooth whitening might just be the solution for you.

Tooth whitening is a popular procedure in dentistry. You might get yourself confused between whitening and bleaching. Bleaching is a procedure wherein teeth are whitened beyond their natural color, whereas whitening is a procedure that brings back the natural color of the teeth by deeply cleaning it. It is indeed true that people always had a white set of teeth, but thanks to many factors, the luster of white teeth has waned to become a mere dull smile.

Dentists can explain this starting with a discussion of the tooth’s enamel. The enamel protects the teeth from all the activities that occur inside the mouth, which could be chewing of food, formation of acids in the mouth, and more. Because of these, the enamel is worn out, which in turn exposes the yellow dentin of the teeth. As the enamel continues to protect the teeth, it suffers from blows and traumas in the form of millions of little cracks. It is in these cracks where food particles and other substances creep in, staining the teeth and allowing them to lose their natural color. This is where tooth whitening comes in.

Tooth whitening works by removing all the stains and debris that are left on the tiny cracks of the enamel. This can be done with the new technologies of dental clinics or right at the comfort of your home. If you come to think of it, the tooth paste is also a whitener in the very sense of the word. Although it takes a lot of time to achieve the effects of a professional tooth whitening procedure with it, its purpose still remains the same.

Furthermore with tooth whitening, there are two types of teeth discoloration. These are extrinsic and intrinsic stains. Extrinsic stains are caused by food, tobacco, and dark beverages such as tea, coffee, and carbonated drinks. These can be easily removed with proper oral hygiene, although there are some extrinsic stains that might need to be removed through dental procedures.

On the other hand, intrinsic stains are caused by aging, mineral exposure, or excessive fluoride consumption. In the previous years, these stains were considered hard to take care of, but nowadays, these can be remedied as well with different procedures.

Speaking of procedures, there are three options to choose from when you consider having your teeth whitened. You can have it at the dental office, take home a professional kit to do it at home, or buy teeth whitening products over the counter. Teeth whitening procedures are now within reach, so whenever you feel like it, you can do it at once.Just remember though to check on the procedures involved whether they are conforming to dentistry standards or not. Check for the appropriate certifications and seals, in the case of teeth whitening products. Teeth whitening, like any other procedure, should be safe for you and your teeth.