No two denturists are the same. If you have been wearing dentures for a while, you know that no two sets of dentures are the same. Finding a quality, experienced denturist can seriously impact the comfort of your dentures. You do not have to deal with loose plates, gums that are rubbed raw, distorted speech, and the inability to eat your favorite foods. If you have any of these problems, there are a few things that you can try before replacing your dentures. Use what I have learned over my 15 years of wearing dentures to find a perfect fit and optimum comfort in your dentures.
finding comfort when wearing dentures
What Could Go Wrong? Should You Whiten Your Teeth At Home With LED Tubes?
Priscilla Hansen
If you're thinking about using LED tubes to bleach your teeth, you may want to reconsider and see your dentist instead. LED tubes are some of the newest trends for at-home teeth bleaching. The tubes are marketed as safe and effective for home use, but do they work as good as the whitening systems used by your cosmetic dentist? In addition, are they really safe to use?
Before you whiten your teeth with LED tubes, keep reading. Here are some possible things that could go wrong with using LED whitening tubes and why it's a better idea to see your dentist for a professional teeth whitening treatment:
What Are LED Teeth Whitening Tubes?
LED teeth whitening tubes are small versions of the laser light-enhanced whitening systems used by professional cosmetic dentists. The ingredients used to whiten your teeth are hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which come inside small, applications or tubes.
The treatment is marketed as quick and simple to use. Some brands tell you that it only takes 10 minutes of your time to see visible results, but there's a catch. If you don't see a difference in the color of your teeth after 10 minutes, you must place the LED light accelerator over your teeth for another 20-50 minutes.
During that time, you may feel uncomfortable as the light and gel penetrates your teeth enamel. In addition, your gums may become sensitive and sore from the extra time needed to remove your teeth stains.
There are other issues you face with the at-home LED treatments. Depending on the brand you use, you may need to:
- Brush your teeth with whitening toothpaste every day to maintain your new look.
- Reapply the gel and accelerator light more than once a week. Some products only whiten your teeth for 1-3 days at a time.
- Rinse your mouth with antiseptic mouthwash. The chemicals in the at-home treatments may dry out your mouth or cause mouth sores.
Your simple LED treatment could become expensive and dangerous to use over time. If you want to avoid the issues above and get long-lasting safe results, see your dentist for a professional whitening treatment instead.
Why Should You See a Dentist Instead of Using LED Tubes?
Unlike the LED tubes marketed online for home use, cosmetic dentists examine your mouth prior to applying teeth whitening treatments. By examining your mouth, dental providers can make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy enough to withstand the bleaching effects of the chemicals used in the treatments.
In addition, dentists take precautions, such as placing a protective dental dam over your gums, when applying their treatments to your teeth. Your gums don't come into contact with the chemicals, which prevents mouth sores and redness in those tissues.
Professional-grade teeth whiteners also take 30 minutes or less to do. Your dentist won't spend an hour getting your teeth white and brilliant.
If you want a safer way to whiten your teeth, schedule an appointment with your dentist. Whitening your teeth shouldn't take more than 30 minutes, and the results should last longer than a few days. To learn more, contact a professional like George S Cochran DDS with any questions you have.
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