Teeth Whitening vs. Bleaching Procedures

In case you did not know, teeth whitening and teeth bleaching are two slightly different procedures. These can work interchangeably, but are distinct from one another.

Definitions

A simple way to understand whitening vs. bleaching is to view simple descriptions of each. For instance, look at the following definitions:

Whitening-This is the process of lightening that involves the use of materials and procedures to remove dirt and stains from teeth. For instance, brushing the teeth, flossing, or using mouthwash might be useful for these purposes.

Bleaching-This is the FDA approved definition of what it means to make teeth a whiter shade. Usually products like this contain hydrogen or carbamide peroxide, and the results of this procedure vary from person to person.

Outcome

Procedures used to brighten your smile result in a variety of outcomes. Often the goal of most whitening or bleaching procedures is to achieve a porcelain-like smile. This serves a very important purpose, in that it helps people feel better about them selves.

This usually occurs as a product works on each tooth to restore the enamel-like finish naturally present on the teeth. This enamel serves a very important purpose-protection from the affects of sugar as well as abrasion from chewing, gnashing, trauma, and acid.

Other Usage

Products used by people to achieve a brighter smile also help remove different types of stains. Two main categories of them include intrinsic and extrinsic stains.

Intrinsic stains are those that appear on the inside of the teeth. Oftentimes these occur because of aging, trauma, or exposure to minerals. It also could be the result of excess fluoride use.

Extrinsic stains are the types that show upon on the surface of teeth. This often is a consequence of drinking too many dark beverages, consuming too much tobacco, and excess wear and tear.

Certain products also help remove stains that develop for other reasons, such as those that come with age. These often are characterized by their yellow to brown color.

Additional uses include the correction of problems resulting from consumption of the following foods and drinks (although very healthy): oranges, carrots, red wine, tea, and cola. This as well as the use of vinegar sometimes leads to enamel erosion.

Additional Facts

It may interest you to know that everyone has a natural tooth color resulting from birth. It ranges from yellow-brown, to greenish-gray. Usually the yellow-brown teeth are more susceptible to bleaching procedures than the green-gray type.