Dental bleaching, also known as tooth whitening, is a common procedure in
general dentistry. As a person ages the adult teeth often become darker due to
changes in the mineral structure of the tooth, as the enamel becomes less
porous. Teeth can also become stained by bacterial pigments, foodstuffs and
tobacco. whitening is done with bleaching gel such as hydrogen peroxide or
carbamide peroxide which is applied to the teeth using thin guard trays to
lighten the shade of the tooth.
The effects of bleaching can last for several months but may vary depending
on the lifestyle of the patient. Factors which will decrease whitening include
smoking and the ingestion of dark colored liquids like coffee, tea and red
wine.
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