Teeth whitening in Kenya

Teeth whitening in Kenya has become a norm rather than an exception. That is because almost everyone now wants a brighter smile. Many people realize they have coloured teeth when the damage has already been done. Most don’t know or understand the various ways and means to regain the natural milk-white colour of their teeth.

To help you avoid mistakes when it comes to teeth whitening in Kenya, the methods you can use, or the necessary procedures, Royal Smiles Dental Clinic has compiled a thorough information guide about the subject. Here, you will learn about teeth discolouration, reasons for dental discolouration, the various methods of whitening your teeth plus their effectiveness, and how you can avoid teeth discolouration in the future. Keep reading the article for the best information on teeth whitening.

Teeth whitening is the process of making the colour of human teeth lighter. It becomes necessary when the colour of your teeth changes from natural white to other colours, with yellow being the most common. The change of colour of the teeth is referred to as teeth discolouration, making the teeth appear unnatural.

After your teeth change colour, they will appear unsightly, which means you will be embarrassed to expose them. According to the American Dental Agency (ADA), discoloured teeth are a confidence killer, especially among younger people. Therefore, you must learn about the different types of teeth discolouration and the main causes before you can learn how to properly and successfully make your teeth white again.

Types of Teeth Discoloration

Teeth discolouration can either be extrinsic, intrinsic, or a combination of both. Below is a brief explanation of both:

1. Extrinsic teeth discolouration

Extrinsic teeth discolouration is the accumulation of compounds on the outer layer of the teeth, the enamel. According to the ADA, extrinsic teeth discolouration is largely due to external factors and your own actions. Examples of such factors and personal behaviour are tobacco use, exposure to metal salts (e.g., iron or copper), or the consumption of highly pigmented foods (e.g., dark fruits) or beverages (e.g., red wine, coffee, tea, or cola drinks).

Since extrinsic discolouration is due to one’s actions, the stains will be majorly on the surface and easily removable. These stains are removable using locally available agents like toothpaste or chewing gums. However, you should first correctly determine that your stains are extrinsic before attempting to remove them using those easily available agents. That is because you can easily misjudge intrinsic stains for extrinsic ones, wasting a lot of time and resources in the process of trying to remove them in vain.

2. Intrinsic teeth discolouration

Intrinsic teeth discolouration happens inside the teeth, usually past the enamel. These kinds of stains are caused by systemic factors like genetic disorders or poor dental development during childhood. Old age may also contribute to intrinsic stains. As you get older, the enamel gets thinner, which results in the yellow dentin showing through, making the colour of your teeth darken to a yellowish colour.

Intrinsic teeth stains are not easy to eliminate, and locally available agents have proved ineffective when used. These stains need the intervention of a qualified dentist for any chance to remove them. The doctor will examine the extent of the discolouration before coming up with an effective whitening plan. Note that different factors cause these kinds of stains in each individual, and no whitening plan can be said to be effective for all patients.

Causes of teeth discolouration

According to the ADA, although teeth discolouration is caused by a single or combination of factors, the following are said to be the most prominent causes:

• Food and drinks. What you eat or drink can negatively affect the colour of your teeth. Things like tea, coffee, wine, potatoes, apples, etc. will stain your teeth, with the extent of the damage depending on the levels of intake.
• Tobacco. Those who smoke or chew tobacco will have stained teeth after a prolonged period of time.
• Failure to observe dental hygiene. Brushing and flossing after every meal are important in removing plaque and other teeth-staining substances from the surface of your teeth. Failure to observe these measures will result in stained teeth.
• Diseases and their treatment methods. Any disease that affects the enamel or the dentin is likely to cause a change in colour. Also, the treatment of some conditions will likely lead to a change in the colour of your teeth. Neck and head chemotherapy are some of the known causes of yellowish colours in patients who have gone through the procedure.
• Medications. Some antibiotics given to children when their teeth are still developing may cause teeth discolouration. Mouth rinses that have high concentrations of chloride will also cause the discolouring of your teeth.
• Dental restorations. Some of the materials used during these procedures will change the colour of your teeth. Amalgam restoration materials, particularly those that contain silver sulfide, will make your teeth appear greyish-black.
• Old age. As the years go by, the enamel will keep wearing down and expose the colour of the dentin, which is yellowish. Note that this is a natural process; how early or later it appears will depend on how you take care of your teeth.
• Genes. Some people have naturally thicker or lighter enamel. If you are born with thicker enamel, your teeth will appear darker; if born with light enamel, your teeth will appear brighter than normal.
• Environmental factors. Some places have a high fluoride concentration in the water systems, leading to a brownish colour of the teeth after drinking such water. It is a problem common in areas with stone quarrying activities whereby the residents use the water from the pits left after the mining for their daily usage.
• Trauma. In children, injury to the developing enamel, mostly caused by falls, can easily cause its natural appearance to change. Injuries to the teeth for adults can also change the colour of the teeth.

Change in Teeth Color and What it Means

Dentists at the Royal Smiles Dental Clinic gave out the following colour changes to the teeth and how they are useful in trying to determine the cause:

• Yellow. The colour appears when the enamel becomes too thin, making the dentin visible. It is mostly associated with old age.
• Brown. The colour mostly appears after a long period of tobacco use, drinking dark beverages and drinks, and poor oral hygiene.
• White. Contrary to popular belief, white teeth are not healthy. Healthy teeth should be yellowish-white. White teeth or white stains on the teeth show over-exposure to fluoride, called fluorosis. It happens when developing enamel is exposed to too much fluoride, excess mouth rinses, or drinking water with too much fluoride.
• Black. It appears mostly due to teeth decay or over-exposure to harmful minerals like iron, manganese, or silver that come from food supplements. These supplements should be obtained from food items comprised of minerals instead of chemically processed foods.

Teeth Whitening Agents

Now you know about the types of teeth discolourations, their causes, and the colours that are used to identify them. You should now learn about the whitening process. Mostly, teeth whitening uses whitening agents that have common ingredients of carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. These chemicals cause a chemical reaction responsible for changing your teeth’ colour. The concentration of these chemicals in the whitening agent will determine how quick the process will be, something that should be established before the process begins so that you should know when to expect the results.

The bleaching process happens when the peroxide chemicals interact with the coloured compounds in the enamel or the dentin through an oxidation process influenced by other environmental factors like light and temperature. The extent of the success achieved through the teeth whitening agents will also depend on the kind of stain being removed, with brown stains being more responsive to bleaching than white stains caused by fluorosis.

The type of stain to be removed will also determine the time taken in the whitening process. Some stains will need several months before an improvement can be noticed, while others will need a few days of bleaching exercise for positive results to be attained. This is the main reason doctor-supervised whitening is more effective than personal whitening since the doctor will know the best bleaching agent after carefully establishing the cause of your teeth discolouration.

Teeth Whitening Methods

The options available for teeth whitening in Kenya are divided into two, private and doctor-supervised.

1. Private Teeth Whitening

Private teeth whitening, also called over-the-counter (OTC) whitening, is when you buy the whitening agents straight from the chemist and start the process without the advice of a doctor. Al the whitening products available to you are peroxide-based, with carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide as the main ingredients. The carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide available in these agents are in lower concentrations, which makes the whitening process take longer.

Some available private whitening products are kinds of toothpaste, whitening strips, and gels painted directly on teeth or delivered in trays. For these products to work, you must strictly follow the given directions of use, failure to which the process will fail. OTC whitening products are usually used to remove extrinsic stains. You may have to use the product for a long time to achieve the desired results.

With the market folded with products that claim to be teeth whitening agents, it is difficult to choose the most efficient one, with a majority failing to give any visible change to your teeth. That is why this method is thought to achieve limited success or ineffective.

2. Doctor-based teeth whitening

Doctor-based teeth whitening in Kenya is divided into two, dentist-supervised prescriptions and in-office whitening.

Dentist-supervised products

Dentist-supervised products or prescriptions are those that are available after a medical examination and determination of the cause of your discolouration. The products have a higher concentration of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, which makes them more effective than OTC products. Although these products are meant to be used or applied at home, they have been specifically prescribed by your dentist and, therefore, most suited to your particular problem.

The most common form of doctor-prescribed whitening agents is tray-based whiteners. They involve filling a special mouth tray with a whitening solution and then wearing it on the teeth. Since the whitening solution contains hydrogen peroxide, it will help whiten teeth.

In-office teeth whitening

In-office teeth whitening in Kenya is done by a dentist or a qualified dental hygienist at the dental clinic. This method is the most recommended since the whole activity is supervised. Here, the whitening agents are applied in combination with heat, special light, or lasers. The results are almost immediate, as visible improvements will take less than one hour. You will need to have several whitening sessions for more permanent results.

Note that in-office whitening is done strictly under the supervision of your dentist after carefully examining your teeth and establishing the cause of their discolouration. All the bleaching agents applied have a very high concentration of peroxide-based chemicals, which makes the progress of the process have visible results immediately after it is done.

In-office whitening is more expensive than all the other methods since, apart from paying for the bleaching agents, you will also pay for the doctor’s time, but the advantage is that the whitening process will take a very short time as compared to the other methods. It is said that your teeth will already be transformed by the time you leave the dentist’s office, with subsequent visits guaranteed to make the results long-lasting.

Adverse Effects of Teeth Whitening

Although whitening your teeth is good for your appearance and will boost your self-confidence, there are some adverse effects that can be associated with the process. These are:

Increased teeth sensitivity. After whitening, your teeth may become over-sensitive to cold or hot foods and drinks. That is because teeth whitening involves the bleaching of the enamel, which may erode its natural composition. The levels of sensitivity will depend on the concentration of peroxide in the agent used. The sensitivity will go away after a short period, with most patients witnessing normal feelings within 1-2 weeks after the procedure has been completed.

Gingival irritation. It happens after the gums come into conduct with peroxide-based whitening agents. It is usually due to poor-fitting trays and improper application of the protection gel. During in-office whitening procedures, unless necessary, your dentist will not use anaesthesia so that any burning feeling caused by the procedure may be noticed. Gingival irritation normally goes away after a short period, with normal painkillers being effective during the irritation period.

Keeping Your Teeth White

After a successful whitening procedure, you should also learn to keep your teeth white and bright. Teeth whitening procedures can be time-consuming and expensive, and nobody wants to keep going back to the same process every now and then. The following are effective ways that can help you maintain the proper colour of your teeth:

• Be careful of tea, coffee, soda, wine, coloured juice, blueberries, sauce, and other known stain makers that will cause discolouration of your teeth.
• Cut back or quit tobacco smoking or chewing.
• Use a straw when drinking beverages.
• Improve your oral hygiene by brushing and flossing immediately after every meal.
• Having professional teeth cleaning exercises at least twice a year.
• See your dentist immediately in case of an unexplained colour change in your teeth.

Eligibility for Teeth Whitening

Although teeth whitening in Kenya can be done to anyone, some groups of people should first have an eligibility test carried out by a doctor before the procedure is done. That is because they are not supposed to have the procedure, or it will not have the desired results. Examples of such groups are:

• Children under the age of 16 years since their gums are still developing.
• Pregnant or nursing women.
• People with overly sensitive teeth.
• People with peroxide allergies.
• People with fillings, crowns, and other teeth restorations.
• People with gum disease or worn enamel.

FAQs About Teeth Whitening in Kenya

Parting Shot

Everyone wishes for a brighter smile and natural-looking teeth. That is why teeth whitening procedures are necessary when your teeth become discoloured. The type of whitening procedure that is suitable for you will depend on the cause of your dental discolouration. That is why it is advisable to seek a doctor’s opinion before attempting any form of teeth whitening, especially for those who are thinking of attempting to do the whitening on their own.

In-office whitening methods are the most advised for those who want quick and immediate results. The dentist will carefully examine your teeth before establishing the course of discolouration before coming up with a tailor-made whitening solution or procedure suitable for you.

However, the success or failure of in-office procedures will also depend on your dentist’s expertise. That is why it is important to seek the best dental professionals before the procedure to avoid future frustrations. For teeth whitening in Kenya, the Royal Smiles Dental Clinic is among the best in the service. Make sure to book an appointment here or visit one of the following branches the next time you want a teeth whitening procedure:

Greenspan Branch Greenspan Area (Donholm Phase 8 ) Opposite Greenspan Mall Gate A.

Embakasi Branch Somo Plaza, Embakasi.

Garden City Branch Garden City Business Park, 1st Floor, Block A, Suite A-103 Thika Road.

Ruaka Branch Ruaka Square Mall 4th Floor, Suite 409, Kiambu County.

Dandora Branch Dandora.

Kitengela Branch Wandu House Second Floor.

Machakos Branch Machakos Doctors Plaza, Ground Floor, Machakos Town.

Nakuru Branch CK Patel Building 5th Floor, Suite 5A, Nakuru Town.