What do people say about your
Smiles and your Teeth: by Gary Forsythe
A smile lights up your face, as the old saying goes. Along with your eyes, your smile is the first thing a person notices
when meeting you. So, where you hesitate to smile because of broken, discolored, or poorly spaced teeth, you may
be sending an unintended negative message.
People choose to improve the appearance of their teeth for a variety of reasons. Some seek to correct imperfections
that have bothered them since childhood; others believe that a better appearance offers a social or professional advantage
. As people keep their teeth later into life than ever before, many wish to reverse the effects of years of wear and tear.
With the advent of new materials and treatments, a better smile is now within reach of a broader segment of the
population. But most dental insurance does not cover cosmetic procedures unless they are performed to correct a
broken tooth, so you probably will have to pay for these improvements out of pocket.
Bleaching
The natural light ivory color of enamel can turn to yellow, orange, brown, gray – even blue or green. Causes of
discoloration include staining from coffee or tobacco, injury that damaged the pulp, ingestion of the antibiotic tetracycline
or high levels of fluoride while the teeth are developing, corrosion from silver fillings, and the natural wearing away of the
enamel with age.
We have found that many stains can be successfully removed through swishing you mouth with Bio-Magnetic Water
( which can be found at: www.bio-magnetictherapy.com.) or brushing with the water several times a day after eating,
or removing them with a bleaching technique, bleaching may be uncomfortable for people with sensitive teeth or an
exposed root. Several different bleaching techniques are available.
Chair-side bleaching
Your dentist etches your teeth with an acid solution and then applies an oxidizing agent to the enamel. Your teeth are
exposed to a bright light or a laser to hasten the lightning. It usually takes three or more sessions, each lasting about
30-60 minutes, to achieve the color you want. A newer technique, called power bleaching, uses a highly concentrate form
of hydrogen peroxide as the lightning agent. It can deliver results in just one session. Bleaching is temporary, however.
Your teeth will darken again within one to three years, and you may need to repeat the procedure. Costs vary, with some
dentists charging a fee of between $75 to $225 a session and others charge a single fee of $300 or more.
Over the counter bleaching kits
These kits operate on the same principles as the professional products. You start with an acid rinse then apply a
hydrogen peroxide gel, and finally coat the teeth with a whitening pigment. Many over the counter tooth whitening strips
or kits cost as little as $15 to $40.
Although many consumers opt for the bleaching method because it is less expensive than other techniques, the Food
and Drug Administration raises several concerns about the use of these kits.
Using Bio-Magnetic Water which can be very helpful, can be found on www.fashionablebio-magneticjewelry.com
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