Green Tea the Benefits of Health Over the past 15–20 years, a number of other research studies have been conducted to determine what health benefits can be attributed to consumption of green tea and its extracts. This research has shown that green tea has a variety of potential health benefits. These benefits include anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, and benefits in cardiovascular disease and oral health. While much of this research has been performed in vitro, and a significant amount of the research done in vivo, using animal models, this will focus mainly on studies conducted with human subjects plus pertinent information from the other types of studies. Anticarcinogenic Properties of Green Tea Cancer is currently a major source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Billions of dollars in research monies have been poured into cancer research over the past 50 plus years, and yet we do not se...
A smile is a fantastic tool white teeth. A smile can immediately transform your appearance, make you feel happier, make you appear in control.
Make others feel happier and even extend the length of your life. However, according to the British Orthodontic Society.
A massive 45% of adults are unhappy with their teeth and 25% believe the state of their teeth effects their self-esteem1. This begs the question - just how many of us are hiding our smiles simply because we don't like our teeth?
Teeth yellowing and staining is, sadly, a natural part of the ageing process. Sometimes even years spent avoiding cigarettes, tea, coffee and red wine can't reverse the natural yellowing of teeth that occurs over time.
Yellowing occurs because the brilliant white outer layer of enamel gradually thins over time, revealing the yellowish layer of dentin beneath.
One way to tackle the effects of yellowing and rejuvenate a long-concealed smile, is to undergo teeth whitening treatment, otherwise known as bleaching.
About teeth whitening
Teeth whitening is a type of cosmetic procedure undertaken either by any professional registered with the General Dental Council, or by yourself with a DIY whitening kit. There are two types of teeth whitening treatment to choose from. These are:
• chemical bleaching
• laser treatment (power whitening).
Skip straight to 'Types of teeth whitening' to find out more about how each of these treatments are administered.
History of teeth whitening
Having a set of bright, white teeth has been an indication of health and beauty for many thousands of years.
In the past we've gone to great lengths to achieve the perfect smile - the ancient Romans even swilled their mouths with human urine in the belief that it would make their teeth stronger and whiter.
This rather strange belief was not entirely unfounded - urine happens to be rich in ammonia, a substance still commonly used in dentistry today.
Teeth whitening in Britain during the 18th and 19th centuries was carried out by barbers, many of whom doubled as dentists and surgeons.
The process involved filing the teeth down with a special kind of metal file, then dabbing them with nitric acid, a highly-corrosive substance which whitened teeth initially but eventually destroyed the enamel and frequently led to serious tooth decay.
This less than ideal treatment was replaced in the 1980s by dentists who, by fluke, discovered that oral anti-septic gel, used to treat gum problems, also appeared to whiten the teeth.
This rather fortunate discovery soon spawned a global industry that, by the late 1990s, was worth around $33.7 million2.
DIY teeth whitening kits were introduced to the market in the 90s and proved extremely popular among people looking for a dazzling smile in a matter of weeks.
Today, many toothpaste and mouthwash brands try to capitalise on the teeth whitening industry by promising 'whiter teeth within 14 days', but these methods are far less effective.
The Academy of General Dentistry reports that now, thirty years after its conception, the teeth whitening industry is worth around £600 million, a figure that continues to grow by 15-20% every year.
Types of teeth whitening
There are currently two widely accepted forms of teeth whitening treatments available:
• chemical bleaching
• laser whitening (power whitening).
Chemical bleaching
What does chemical bleaching do to the teeth?
Chemical bleaching is the most common form of teeth whitening. Dentists tend to use a formula made up of 15-35% hydrogen peroxide gels. However, home kits usually only consist of around 10-20% hydrogen peroxide for safety reasons.
The hydrogen peroxide is used to soak through the surface enamel of the tooth in order to oxidise the organic composites within the staining. The oxidation process leaves smaller, lighter molecules in the place of the bigger, darker ones in order to lighten the tooth by a number of shades.
How is chemical bleaching administered?
There are two possible ways to administer chemical bleaching:
• via a dental professional
• with a DIY whitening kit.
Dentist
Dentist supervised chemical tooth whitening can be carried out in your own home or at a dentist surgery. The treatment will begin with a check-up to ensure gums are healthy and any cavities are filled in.
Your dentist will then gently clean your teeth with pumice and place a protective barrier over your gums.
The hydrogen peroxide paste is then coated over the teeth and left to soak in for several minutes, after which it is washed off and applied again, perhaps several times.
The benefits of choosing dentist treatment over DIY treatment include:
• a health check-up to make sure you have no other problems such as tooth decay or gum disease
• stronger, more effective formula
• guarantee of correct application.
DIY whitening kit
The formula found in DIY teeth whitening kits is usually much weaker than that used by dentists. It also contains glycerine, sodium hydroxide, carbomer, water and flavouring agents.
You will be required to squeeze this into a mouth guard, which you will then wear over your teeth for a couple of hours a day for up to six weeks. Benefits of choosing DIY treatment over dentist treatment include:
• often cheaper
• you can do it in your spare time.
Laser treatment (power whitening)
Laser treatment, otherwise known as power whitening, is the newest form of teeth whitening and is generally believed to produce the fastest and most effective results.
This kind of treatment can only be administered by a dentist due to the nature of the technology required.
After your mouth has been assessed for good health, your dentist will then place a rubber dam over your teeth in order to protect your gums before painting your teeth with bleaching paste.
Your dentist will then shine a laser over your teeth in order to activate the chemical and speed up the whitening process. Dentists claim that power whitening has the ability to turn your teeth up to six shades lighter than their original colour.
Teeth whitening
Will teeth whitening work on me?
Teeth whitening treatment cannot promise to change the appearance of your teeth. Often, the results are very subtle and don't tend to have much effect on heavily stained teeth.
Teeth whitening is not recommended in the following situations:
• if you have false teeth/dentures
• If your enamel has worn away leaving the root exposed
• when your teeth are very brown
• if you are pregnant
• if you are under the age of 18.
How long will teeth whitening last?
This varies significantly from person to person and can range from anything between a few weeks and three years.
How much does teeth whitening cost?
Costs of procedures vary widely from practice to practice depending on location, experience and materials used.
Generally speaking, teeth whitening administered by a dentist should cost in the region of a few hundred pounds. DIY whitening kits can range from around £8, to over £100.
What are the risks of teeth whitening?
Although teeth whitening can be an effective cosmetic treatment, it doesn't come without its risks. Side-effects of having your teeth whitened include:
• increased tooth sensitivity straight after treatment
• sore throat
• tender gums
• white patches on gums
• gum blisters.
You are advised to avoid teeth whitening treatments until you are over the age of 18, once your teeth are fully developed.
Who is qualified to whiten teeth?
As it stands, teeth whitening is not a recognised qualification in the UK, nor is it a service which is subject to statutory regulation.
This means that whilst procedures often involve the use of potentially harmful bleach or lasers, no training is required to set-up shop and deliver these services to consumers.
The General Dental Council (GDC) is the organisation responsible for regulating dental professionals in the UK, and have decided that teeth whitening is part of the practice of dentistry.
This means that you should only let a fully qualified professional whiten your teeth. Here at Beauty Resource, you will only find individuals advertising their teeth whitening services if they have provided us with proof of membership with the GDC. More information about this organisation can be found below:
General Dental Council (GDC)
The General Dental Council is the statutory regulator for all dental professionals in the UK, and by law, the following groups must be registered with the council in order to work:
• dentists
• clinical dental technicians
• dental hygienists
• dental nurses
• dental technicians
• dental therapists
• orthodontic therapists.
Primary aims of the GDC include:
• Ensuring that all of the above professionals keep their skillset and knowledge up-to-date.
• Ensuring the standard of dental education throughout the country is high.
• Ensuring that a high quality of care is given to patients.
• Ensuring that patients complaints and questions are dealt with.
Only dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists are permitted to carry out teeth whitening, and any other practitioners carrying out these services could face disciplinary action.
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