Teeth whitening

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening or tooth bleaching is the process of lightening the color of human teeth. Whitening is often desirable when teeth become yellowed over time for a number of reasons, and can be achieved by changing the intrinsic or extrinsic color of the tooth enamel.

Pronunciation

UK: /ti:θ ˈwaɪtənɪŋ/
US: /tiθ ˈwaɪtənɪŋ/

Etymology

The term "teeth whitening" comes from the Old English words "teeth" (plural of "tooth") and "whiten", which means to make white.

Related Terms

Procedure

Teeth whitening can be achieved through either a change in the intrinsic color of the teeth by altering the color of the dentin, or by removing and controlling the formation of extrinsic stains on the tooth enamel. The chemical degradation of the chromogens within or on the tooth is termed as bleaching.

Risks

Teeth whitening procedures may carry some risks. The most common are tooth sensitivity and gum irritation, which are usually temporary and disappear after the treatment ends. Overuse of whiteners can also damage the tooth enamel or gums, so it's recommended to follow directions and talk to your dentist.

See Also

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski