Teeth Whitening Science

Oct 1, 2020 | Teeth Whitening Science | 0 comments

Many people are interested in whitening their teeth or getting into the teeth whitening business. Whereas not everyone needs to understand how the tooth appears more white at the molecular level, anyone wanting to offer teeth whitening services should be able to explain the science behind teeth whitening to their customers. If you are looking to whiten your teeth, it will help you to understand teeth whitening science so you can choose the solution that best helps you meet your goals.

What Is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening, also known as bleaching, is the act of removing stains from the teeth, which in turn makes them look whiter. There are surface stains that reside on the tooth’s enamel. You can usually remove surface stains by simple mechanical means such as tooth brushing or polishing. Usually, the dentist polishes teeth. But even polishing only removes surface stains, and surface stains come back quite readily.

What we mean by teeth whitening is the bleaching or whitening of the stains on the dentin layer of the tooth. If you look at an anatomical drawing of a tooth, you’ll see that the outer layer of the teeth (the layer you feel when you touch your teeth), is the enamel. The enamel is a transparent layer, and it does not retain any stains in it, just on the surface of it.

Below the enamel is the dentin layer, which is the one that gives the tooth its color. It is here that your teeth get stained. The enamel layer is porous, so staining particles from coffee, tobacco, wine, tea, etc. can seep through these pores to reach the dentin, and that’s where they accumulate. The more of these particles get through, the more discolored (stained) your teeth become.

To whiten your teeth, you need to get a bleaching substance to the dentin layer. The best way to bleach anything is with oxygen radicals, but you can’t pump pure oxygen (or especially oxygen free radicals) to your teeth, much less through the enamel. The best-known teeth whitening chemical in the world, when we wrote this, is hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is NOT the same as oxygen (O2), but when hydrogen peroxide reacts, it breaks down into water (H2O) and oxygen radical (of which there are a few varieties). Oxygen radicals only live a fraction of a second, but for that moment, they desperately look for something to oxidize (or react with), and the stains on your teeth are just what the doctor ordered.

What the teeth whitening science and research shows is that when you apply hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide gel to the teeth, the hydrogen peroxide breaks down on the tooth’s surface and travels through the pores in the enamel of the tooth until it reaches the dentin layer. There, the oxygen radicals react with the stained particles on the dentin and whiten them. They do NOT remove the staining molecules, but bleach them, removing their color. When you apply the right strength of hydrogen peroxide (or carbamide peroxide) with the correct frequency and duration to the teeth, they will appear significantly whiter.

Thank you for sharing!

Our CATEGORIES

teeth whitening precautions

Teeth Whitening Precautions

Please read and follow these teeth whitening precautions for all of our home whitening products...   Keep out of reach of children Not for use by children under the age of 12. Do NOT use if pregnant or lactating, if teeth or gums are not healthy, or if you are...
side effects of teeth whitening

What are the Side Effects of Teeth Whitening?

Some side effects of teeth whitening include tooth sensitivity, blanching, and minor gum irritation. Read the post to learn more.

teeth whitening gel expiration date

Does Teeth Whitening Gel Expire?

The short answer is: yes, it does. Look for the lot number and expiration date on the product or the packaging. Heat may cause gel to lose efficacy before its expiration date. Read the post to learn more.

teeth whitening after care

Teeth Whitening After Care

Following these teeth whitening after-care instructions will help your teeth whitening results last as long as possible, and keep your enamel strong and healthy.1) Use Remineralizing Gel Seal and strengthen your teeth at the end of your professional teeth whitening...
The White Diet

The White Diet

Make the results of your professional or home teeth whitening treatment last longer by following The White Diet for 24 to 48 hours afterward. After a teeth whitening treatment, the pores of your enamel are open, making them more vulnerable to stains. It takes about...

How to Whiten Your Teeth from Home

There are many methods, services, and products to whiten your teeth. If you choose to whiten your teeth from home, your biggest problem will be choosing one product from among the thousands available on the market. But there are only three things that affect the...
how to whiten teeth fast

How to Whiten Teeth FAST (in 2022)

Got a big event tomorrow and want to look your best? Great! By the end of this post, you will know exactly what to do to whiten your teeth quick, fast, and in a hurry. Not only that, but you will also know the absolute best way to immediately get a blindingly bright...
woman happy with teeth whitening at salon or dentist

Teeth Whitening in a Salon vs at the Dentist

We’re the teeth whitening experts! Let us explain the differences you can expect between teeth whitening in a salon vs at the dentist. In this article we’re comparing a teeth whitening treatment done in a salon to a teeth whitening treatment done at the dentist - in...

Got Questions?

Ready to Get Started?

To become our TOP PRIORITY, just fill out this form. We will respond to you within 1 business day.

NOTE: By submitting this form, you agree to receive periodic marketing messages from which you can easily unsubscribe.