Gum Disease

Gum disease is the most common health problem that is associated with bad breath. The buildup of plaque on the teeth can lead to gum disease, in which case the gums may smell, build up bacteria, bleed, leak pus, and even rot away. Gum disease is very serious as it can lead to secondary illnesses. If you have bad breath even after brushing or rinsing, and it smells differently from what you have recently eaten or what it normally smells like, see your dentist to make sure you do not have gum disease. To help prevent gum disease, it is important to brush your teeth with a good quality toothpaste. There are also reminerlisation products to help reduce the risks.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a respiratory infection that can be very serious if left untreated, especially in the very young and the elderly. If bacteria or viruses build up in your mouth (causing the bad breath) it can very easily spread to the lungs and form an infection in one or both of the lungs. This infection if left untreated and even sometimes if treated can cause death or other serious illnesses. Trouble breathing, a rattling cough, and bad breath are all signs of pneumonia and it should be taken quite seriously, especially in the very young and elderly age groups where infections can stay for much longer due to a low immune system.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce enough or any insulin, causing blood glucose to build up in the blood and reactions to occur to that. Reactions might include seizures, coma, and even death. With diabetes, early detection is important, so if you have chronic bad breath, a history of diabetes in your family, and bouts where you feel very ill for no apparent reason, it may be a good idea to see your doctor to be tested for diabetes. If diabetes goes untreated it can also lead to secondary illnesses.

Dry Mouth

With all of these serious illnesses, it may seem foolish to mention dry mouth as a health problem that is associated with bad breath. But the truth is, dry mouth can be caused by several different things, like as a side effect of certain illnesses or diseases. These illnesses may include rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s, HIV/AIDS, and Cystic Fibrosis. All of these illnesses are very serious and need treatment. The illness might cause dry mouth, which in turn because of a lack of saliva flow through the mouth may cause bad breath. If you feel you are having dry mouth problems, check with your doctor to make sure it is nothing more serious. There are also many products on the market which can help with dry mouth.

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Basically…

The bare bones of teeth whitening come down to the difference in teeth whitening and teeth bleaching. Teeth whitening is the process of removing dirt and debris from the miniscule cracks and pores of the teeth to make them look cleaner and therefore whiter. Teeth bleaching is the process of using peroxide or actual bleach to seep into the enamel of the tooth and brightening the layer underneath that has turned yellow or brown in color. Teeth whitening products may contain peroxide or bleach, but they are still not considered teeth bleaching products.

Teeth Bleaching

Teeth bleaching is the more popular of the two forms of whitening processes for teeth. The more expensive teeth bleaching is done at a dentist’s office, while less expensive bleaching kits are found in stores and done at home. Bleaching at the dentist’s office is more expensive because the solution used in the process is anywhere from 15 to 35% hydrogen peroxide and the process is boosted by using a laser or other specialized light. The color change is immediate and very noticeable.

The at-home teeth bleaching kits usually include either pre-filled or customizable mouth trays that hold gel or other whitening solutions. The trays are put on the mouth for a certain amount of time, usually two to three times a week. Other at-home systems use brush on gel or strips to place on the teeth. All of these are much cheaper than dentist chair procedures. Risks of teeth bleaching include increased sensitivity to temperature, pressure and touch, irritated gums, and multicolored teeth (when dental work does not get whiter along with the natural ones). Products are available to help deal with the sensitivity issues including desensitisers and reminerlisation products.

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening often most often comes in the form of whitening toothpastes or mouth washes. These products are meant to remove the debris and dirt from the tiny cracks and crevices of the teeth, making them appear whiter and brighter after their use. Whitening tooth pastes and mouth washes are often quite cheap compared to at home teeth bleaching kits and dentist chair procedures, making them very friendly on a budget. What is considered a disadvantage is that teeth whitening products often take six plus weeks before a result can be seen.

There are a few risks associated with teeth whitening products as well, and these are basically the same as the ones for teeth bleaching. It is important to discontinue use if an extreme reaction occurs to either teeth whitening or bleaching products.

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How It Is Done

The target of whitening solutions and techniques is the dentin, which is the layer underneath the enamel of the tooth. Whitening solutions seep through the pores of the enamel to whiten the dentin. The solution used in teeth whitening systems are usually made of either bleach or a peroxide solution, and come in different strengths depending on how much you want to pay or where you get it done (home or at the dentist’s office). The solution is usually placed in mouth trays that form to the person’s teeth and are left on for a period of time.

The Risks

Risks of tooth whitening include sensitivity, gum irritation, and uneven-colored teeth. Sensitivity to temperature, pressure or touch is usually due to the opening of enamel pores during whitening, allowing substances to get to the dentin and hurting the teeth more than before the whitening. Gum irritation is due to the harsh chemicals found in teeth whitening solutions and sometimes the trays themselves. Uneven-colored teeth occurs when a person has restorative dental work such as porcelain veneers or caps and the natural teeth whiten but the restorative treatments do not.

Who Shouldn’t Whiten?

Unless you have several hundred dollars to replace your current restorative dental work with whiter work that matches your newly whitened teeth, it is suggested that those with things like bondings, porcelain veneer, and caps do not use whitening products because it will make restorative treatment stand out in a way that may be unpleasing to the eye. If your teeth are stained a brown or gray color, the chances of your whitening procedure working are much lower than if your teeth are simply yellow. If you are pregnant or nursing, you are not recommended to use whitening trays or techniques due to safety reasons, and if your teeth are extremely sensitive you may want to avoid whitening as well. There are however, products available to help deal with the sensitivity issues including desensitisers and reminerlisation products.

Your Options

There are several different options for teeth whitening systems that are available on the market aside from going to your dentist. These at-home treatments are much less expensive than going to the dentist, making them very popular. There are pre-filled mouth trays that are not molded to your tooth shape, “boil and bite” mouth trays that are reused and formed to your mouth after boiling them to make sure they are soft. Full tray systems, brush on gels, and whitening strips are also available that do not require mouth trays.

You should first of all know that all bleaching gels cause some degree of sensitivity. Some people have come to expect the discomfort that comes with whitening their teeth and are have even resolved their self to deal with it due to the benefits of the whitening process. Some dentists will recommend treatments for sensitivity or a remineralization of the teeth. This is the process of restoring the minerals that our teeth contain after bleaching has taken place. You can manage this in several different ways such as toothpastes, pre-filled trays and gels.

The process by which our teeth become remineralized is this:

• Foods that we eat deposit minerals in our system which in turn is present in our saliva. By not eating a proper diet or not chewing our food sufficiently we may end up with mineral poor saliva.
• Carbonic acid is needed for strong teeth. There is only a miniscule fraction of the carbon dioxide that we breathe that is converted into carbonic acid.
• This carbonic acid molecule has to be produced in close proximity to a mineral molecule that is then dissolved into the carbonic acid molecule.
• This all has to happen in close proximity to a demineralized spot in the latticework of the tooth that requires the mineral.
• This spot on the tooth has to be clean so that it is accessible by the mineral.
• The carbonic acid must finally convert to carbon dioxide and water where a mineral is precipitated out of the solution and into the structure of the enamel.

By using remineralization to help rebuild the enamel on your teeth, you can whiten your teeth without worrying about the sensitivity that occurs with whitening.

Toothpastes that help rebuild tooth enamel should be used throughout the whitening process. This is effective only if you are using bleach on your teeth. Most whitening toothpastes do not use bleach so there is no fear of demineralizing your teeth with whitening pastes. Pre-filled trays that are used for remineralizing your teeth should be used either before or after the whitening and in some instances both before and after depending on the extent of the sensitivity. Gels can be used with the same custom trays that are used for whitening teeth. They are usually used for a period of 30 minutes before or after whitening or both. It is highly advisable to begin remineralizing your teeth if you are bleaching your teeth to help desensitize your teeth.

There are a lot of people who have sensivities to hot and cold foods as well as cold air. This can be painful. If you use a professional grade whitener on sensitive teeth, it can cause even more damage by irritating the gum line around the teeth. There are a few whitening treatments that include a remineralizing product that actually fills in the tiny, microscopic crevasses and pits that occur from normal eating. This helps to desensitize the teeth making eating hot and cold foods easier.

Before beginning any whitening treatments it is recommended that you visit your dentist to make sure there is no gum disease present. Gum disease can sometime allow the teeth to loosen and become abscessed. Using whitening products with gum disease can cause serious problems. The gums can become irritated making the abscess worse and spreading the infection through your body. This would require medical attention in order to correct the problem.

One of the most important things you should discuss with your dentist is whether your teeth are healthy enough to begin whitening treatments. If there are any small decays that may be present between teeth it can cause excruciating pain and possible infection. There are a number of gum diseases that can go undetected by someone who is not familiar with dental diseases. If your dentist determines that your teeth are healthy enough to begin whitening treatments and that there is no gum disease you should determine which method of treatments you would like to try.

Whitening treatments come in a number of different types such as all tray whiteners, plasma lights, strips and pens as well as toothpastes and mouth rinses. The type you choose will determine the cost of your treatments and possible even the effects of the whiteners on your teeth. Some of these whiteners takes longer before you actually see their effects while others are more visible in a short period of time. The ones that take a short period of time have a higher percentage of peroxide in them; this can range between 12% and 44%. Of course 44% is a professional grade of whitener while the lesser is an over-the-counter grade. The strength of your whitening treatments will be determined by the color of your natural teeth.