Dummies Guide to Teeth Whitening Products in Australia

Before going into the teeth whitening products available in Australia and how to know whether they are suitable for you, it will be relevant to understand first why teeth lose their sparkle and become yellow with age or for any other reason.

Why Teeth Become Yellow and Stained

The primary reason for teeth becoming yellow and stained can be attributed directly to lifestyles. Smoking and drinking plenty of tea and coffee can lead to stained teeth. Intake of dark coloured juices like that of beetroot and soy also has an adverse effect on teeth. Even drugs like tetracycline that are taken for high fever as a child can stain teeth and be visible after growing up.

Ageing is another cause for stained teeth. The original colour of teeth is a pearly white which progressively turns to yellow and grey with age. The outer white and hard enamel which is white thins off due to wear and tear. The second layer dentine which is greyish then becomes partly visible and gives the teeth a darker tinge.

Buying Guide to Teeth Whitening Products

Before purchasing teeth whitening items, you should know what to look for so that you can be sure of the results.

• Composition – Checking the composition of the products is the first step, regardless of whether you are picking up the product from a retail pharmacy store or purchasing online. Read the label before anything else. There are two types of ingredients that make for white teeth. The first is hydrogen peroxide and the other is carbamide peroxide. Regular toothpaste with whiteners can clean the surface only, but peroxide- based whiteners reach the inner levels of teeth and clean out the stains. For example, Active Smile teeth whitening products, considered to be one of the leading brands in Australia has carbamide peroxide in its formulation.
• Know Safe Composition Levels – It is not enough to know what is the formulation of a specific teeth whitening item, it is essential to know what the safe levels are for you. For hydrogen peroxide, it is 10% while that of carbamide peroxide it is 35%. These levels too are not in home-based products but in those used under dentist’s supervision. The normal teeth whitening kit has hydrogen peroxide to a maximum of 6% only. The restrictions are necessary because these chemicals are corrosive and can damage the mucous membrane, gums and skin in the mouth.   

Another aspect that should be considered is convenience. Check various products in sample size and test them to know what suits you the most. You might also find a product that is easy to use while another is not. Choose carefully so that you do not leave the treatment halfway through.

Common teeth whitening products in Australia

These are some of the common teeth whitening items available in the country.

• Charcoal Powder – Strange as it may sound, this black powder helps teeth to get back the sparkle. Charcoal powder is obtained by burning coconut at high temperatures and then grinding the residue to silt. A pinch of this powder can be picked up through a moist toothbrush and the teeth and gums gently brushed with it. The mouth should then be rinsed off in the ordinary course.

Charcoal has high detoxifying properties and the charcoal molecules absorb toxins from the teeth when brushing. These are then spat out of the mouth later. A tub of 30gm charcoal powder is good for almost 100 applications.  

• Teeth Whitening Strips – These strips are ideal for those with slight yellowish teeth only and where stains have just begun to show. People on a budget will also find the strips useful. Treatments can be easily carried out a home.

The strips are made of plastic and have a layer of teeth whitening gel on them. The gel contains 6% hydrogen peroxide and is therefore safe for use. Each strip has to be wrapped around the teeth with the gel side facing down and be kept for half an hour. The treatment has to be done every day for two weeks. The gel breaks through the stains and eliminates them. Even though results are visible within two weeks, the effectiveness of the strips varies from person to person.

• Teeth Whitening Gel – Teeth whitening gel is available as a complete kit which has gel syringes, a mouth whitening tray and an LED teeth whitening light. It is considered to be the most effective of all teeth whitening items. Gel from the syringe is applied to the tray which is then placed in the mouth and the LED light is switched on. After 10 minutes a beeper will go off signalling that a session is over. Four such sessions can be done one after another, if necessary for best results.

A visit to a dentist is no longer required now to bring the sparkle back to stained teeth unless of course, the stains are stubborn. in nature. Teeth whitening items used at home are quite effective too.     

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