Tooth Whitening in Los Angeles - How Does Tooth Whitening Work?

Tooth whitening is the most common cosmetic service provided by dentists, and there are also a growing number of over-the-counter tooth whitening products to choose from. Tooth whitening in Los Angeles is also quite popular as well. However, many people are not quite sure how exactly these treatments actually whiten their teeth. So it's important to understand how your teeth get stained and what is required to get them white again.

Each of your teeth is made up of an inner dentin layer and a hard outer enamel layer, which protects the teeth. When you eat, smoke, or drink coffee or wine, among other things, another layer gradually forms on top of the enamel layer. Basically, the foreign material accumulates to form a film over the enamel layer.

A dentist can clean away this film, through scraping and chemical treatments. Even brushing your teeth can remove some of it, and whitening toothpastes are designed to work even harder on this layer. The problem, however, is that as this layer sits on your teeth for years and years, the foreign material gets into the enamel. The enamel layer porous, which means staining agents can work their way down into the tooth, where you can't simply clean them away. The deeper stains are, although they are basically harmless, many people find them unattractive.

This is where true tooth whiteners come in. Teeth whitening can be administered at the dental office, at home using special trays, or by using over the counter products like toothpastes, whitening strips and whitening pens.

Basically, the whiteners use bleaching chemicals to get down into the tooth enamel and set off a chemical reaction - specifically, an oxidation reaction, that breaks apart the staining compounds. Most tooth whiteners use carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. When used in the mouth, carbamide peroxide breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and urea, with hydrogen peroxide being the active whitening ingredient.

When considering tooth whitening in Los Angeles, consult your dentist to find out if you can benefit from a particular type of treatment. Depending on the condition of your teeth, he or she can tell you which treatment will give you the results you desire.