Shine Teeth Whitening

Teeth professional whitening services, teeth whitening kits, and teeth whitening pens for medical spas and cosmetic practices.

Is This For Real? New Gel Claims to Re-Grow Teeth

In the believe it or not category the UK's Daily Mail reported today that a new gel being developed by scientists can help decayed teeth grow back good as new in a matter weeks. 
The article says that the gel, which is being developed by scientists in France, works by prompting cells in teeth to start multiplying. They then form healthy new tooth tissue that gradually replaces what has been lost to decay. 

Says the article: Researchers say in lab studies it took just four weeks to restore teeth back to their original healthy state. The gel contains melanocyte-stimulating hormone, or MSH. We produce this in the pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland just behind the bridge of the nose. MSH is already known to play an important part in determining skin colour - the more you have, the darker your flesh tone. But recent studies suggest MSH may also play a crucial role in stimulating bone regeneration. As bone and teeth are very similar in their structure, a team of scientists at the National Institute for Health and Medical Research in Paris tested if the hormone could stimulate tooth growth. Their findings, published in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Nano, could signal hurtnot just an end to fillings, but the dreaded dentist drill as well. Tooth decay is a major public health problem in Britain. Around £45m a year is spent treating decayed teeth and by the age of 15, teenagers have had an average of 2.5 teeth filled or removed. Decay is caused by bacteria, called streptococcus mutans, that live in the mouth and feed on sugar in the diet. Once the bacteria stick to the enamel, they trigger a process called demineralisation - they turn sugar in the diet into a harmful acid that starts to create holes in the teeth. 

For decades, the main treatment for cavities has been to 'drill and fill'. However, an estimated one in five Britons suffers from dental phobia, a fear of dentists which means some would rather endure pain and suffering than face the prospect of having their teeth drilled. 
The new treatment is painless. And although fillings halt decay, they can come loose and sometimes need refilling. Experts believe new tooth cells would be stronger and a permanent solution. The French team mixed MSH with a chemical called poly-L-glutamic acid. This is a substance often used to transport drugs inside the body because it can survive the harsh environments, such as the stomach, that might destroy medicines before they get a chance to work. The mixture was then turned into a gel and rubbed on to cells, called dental pulp fibroblasts, taken from extracted human teeth. These cells are the kind that help new tooth tissue to grow. But until now there has been no way of 'switching' them back on once they have been destroyed by dental decay. The researchers found the gel triggered the growth of new cells and also helped with adhesion - the process by which new dental cells 'lock' together. This is important because it produces strong tooth pulp and enamel which could make the decayed tooth as good as new. 

In a separate experiment, the French scientists applied the gel to the teeth of mice with dental cavities. In just one month, the cavities had disappeared. The gel is still undergoing testing but could be available for use within three to five years. Professor Damien Walmsley, the British Dental Association's scientific adviser, said the gel could be an interesting new development, but stressed it is unlikely to be able to repair teeth that have been extensively damaged by decay. 'There are a lot of exciting developments in this field, of which this is one,' he said. 'It looks promising, but we will have to wait for the results to come back from clinical trials and its use will be restricted to treating small areas of dental decay.' 

Wow! If this development is as good as it sounds, think of the implications for teeth whitening? For now, at least, the published results don't give an indication of whether it can correct teeth that aren't decayed so much as darkened with age or just stained. But it could be an important breakthrough for all kinds of dentistry applications. The discovery is still several years away from commercial application. But we will definitely stay tuned. 

Over the Counter Teeth Whitening Products - High cost/Low results

When it comes to teeth whitening, there is no shortage of over-the-counter (OTC) peroxide-based products on the market today. It might be tempting for consumers to try these products in an attempt to speed up whitening regardless of whether they use professional level whitening products or services. However, most of these products—especially the ones you see advertised on television infomercials or over the Internet—are not safe, reliable, or effective. Without strict guidelines, many of these readily attainable home products are runny or acidic and may be easily swallowed due to ill-fitting trays, or they may contain ingredients that damage your tooth enamel. Others use skimpy means to deliver the whitening substance with uncomfortable, universal “boil-and-bite” whitening trays. Many of these products have not undergone the vigorous testing of professionally dispensed products.

Other OTC products, such as whitening strips and paint-on solutions are safe for maintaining professionally delivered whitening, or are suitable enough for an individual who is just trying the product out to see if whitening is right for you; however, these products generally contain just 2-4% whitening solution and will never achieve the dramatic improvement you can get with professional whitening options. White strips are known for slipping and leaving a "grainy" feel on the teeth. One of the most surprising aspects of over the counter products is that they are extremely expensive, especially for the low level of actual whitening power they provide. Any of these products should be used with extreme care if you have tooth colored fillings that can be seen when you smile. 

In addition to procedures and products designed specifically to whiten teeth, manufacturers have responded to everyone's desire to have whiter teeth by including whitening agents in standard products like toothpaste, floss, toothbrushes, and chewing gum. These may be useful for helping to maintain professionally whitened teeth between treatments. Some of these agents work by removing slight surface stains through the physical-mechanical action of mild abrasive ingredients such as baking soda, not unlike the way you'd clean any surface with a mildly abrasive cleaning "scrub".

However, the shade improvement you see from any over the counter product will be far less dramatic than the use of a professional strength carbamide peroxide-based, professionally administered and supervised services, such as the products you can obtain for your practice at wholesale prices from SHINE. 

The Advantages of a Custom Teeth Whitening Tray

Have you ever wondered if the advantages of a custom-fit set of teeth whitening trays is really worth the expense? By custom fit, we mean the kind of trays that you can get from a dentist (especially a cosmetic dentist) or from an outsourced dental lab. 
In other words, a set of trays that are custom fit to the person who will use them, as opposed to one of the pre-fab or "boil-n-bite" do it yourself kits. 

The biggest advantage of a custom made kit is perhaps the most obvious one: The custom tray is trimmed to fit precisely along the wearer's gumline, to ensure that the entire surface of the tooth is bleached, but to avoid contact of the bleach with the soft gum tissue, which helps to minimize the potential for gum irritation during the bleaching process. There are some other factors as well: presumably a nicely made set of trays is comfortable to wear, making it easier for the client to wear the trays for full amount of time they've allotted. The custom fit also keeps the bleach against the tooth and inside of the tray rather than allowing it to leak out and escape or be rendered ineffective once it touches the air. If the trays are made properly, the fit should also prevent slippage, yet again making them more effective and easier to wear. 

Ideally, you should be able to jog, watch television, handle light errands--anything except eat drink or perhaps talk on the phone--while wearing your trays. The light, pliable plastic should make them easy to wear. 

So -  yet another set of good reasons to invest in a custom kit at the most attractive price possible, such as the kind you can obtain for yourself or offer through your aesthetic spa or clinic from SHINE. 

Here's to a great week! Thanks for reading! 

Not kidding: Job description of Prince Charles' Personal ValetIncludes Squeezing Toothpaste onto the Royal Toothbrush

Talk about a royal smile: According to MSNBC, the job description of Prince Charles' personal valet includes the responsibility of squeezing toothpaste onto the royal toothbrush. Imagine the implications: Since Fawcett is, according to various news reports, the only person Charles trusts with this awesome responsibility, one must presume that the heir to the British throne's dental hygiene declines precipitously whenever the valet goes on vacation.

And yet another little known dental fact: In spite of a challenged economy, Americans spend $2.025B on Halloween candy each year--a sum larger than the GNP of more than a few entire countries. Interestingly, the amount we spend on Halloween candy is roughly equivalent to the sum we spend on dental products such as toothpaste, toothbrushes and floss every year: a handy $2B. 

Finally, a sobering word of caution to end today's unorthodox post: Dentists advise patients to store their toothbrush at least six feet away from the nearest toilet? Why? (No, it has nothing to do with the temptation to suddenly use the toothbrush to attack bathroom porcelain stains.) It's to avoid the risk of bacteria spraying into the air when the toilet flushes finding their way onto the brush. I wonder who completed the research on that one? 

At any rate, here's to a wonderful day - and from all of us at SHINE Teeth Whitening, Keep Smiling! 

Is whitening gel bad for your gums? Another whitening myth debunked

It's interesting the amount of mis-information one can find on the web. Get this one: A moneyexpert site includes advice on teeth whitening (imagine that!) and claims that teeth bleaching is a dangerous practice, as carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide gel is dangerous to the teeth and gums - wears down teeth enamel - and that concentrations of even 10% carbamide peroxide have been known to cause dental disease in clients who slept in their whitening trays overnight. Wow! What a lot of misinformation! 

Fortunately, at least one of this forum's readers was astute enough to respond with an accurate answer. The respondent to this question correctly assessed the writer was a thinly veiled advertiser with a product they were trying to hawk. 

And they shared the following information: 

Whitening gel does not break down tooth enamel. The gel is pH neutral, not acidic. Neither does it damage the gums of used correctly, ie not overfilling the tray and removing any excess straight away. Gum disease is caused by bacteria, not by the over application of whitening gel. True, it can cause irritation or slight sensitivity but in this case applications should just be less frequent and the user should take extra care to wipe away any excess gel that comes in contact with the gums. Any sensitivity is NOT permanent. And there is no evidence that laser whitening accelerates whitening beyond the short time period immediately after the laser section until the teeth resume normal hydration again. 

Furthermore, nobody should claim to give permanent tooth whitening. Outside of manmade veneers, there is no such thing as a permanent whitening. The length of whitening result will always depend on the level of contact with staining substances in a person's diet or lifestyle. However, once you bleach your teeth, the whitening affect will come faster the next time they are bleached, and it is easy to reapply gel at regular intervals with a custom fit tray.

Thankfully, not every piece of advice on the internet is bad: on the same website someone wonders if they can use their bite guard trays for applying whitening gel. The answer? No! Technically, the whitening result would conceivably be the same - but a custom fit tray ends at the edge of the gum to keep the gel on the teeth and prevent it from getting washed away by saliva and accidentally ingested, or from burning the gums. A custom tray also helps make whitening more comfortable and keeps the gel applied more evenly (especially if you use a brush tip like the one at the end of the SHINE whitening pen to apply the gel evenly to the front teeth portion of the tray and pay extra attention to the application to the darker space between teeth). Using a bite guard for whitening? In our opinion, no way! 

Thanks for reading - and let us know how we can help you with your teeth whitening questions at SHINE. 

Does Every Culture Value White Teeth?

Actually, most of them do. But I was intrigued by a blog I read this week by a science fiction writer (of all things) who maintains that a yen for white teeth isn't entirely universally and the focus on teeth whitening products hasn't always been so. In TalkToYouUniverse writer Juliette Wade notes that in her former studies of early hominids she was fascinated to learn that up to a certain time period, cavities (or dental caries) didn't exist. Skulls dated after the beginning of that period often have rotting teeth; skulls from the earlier period don't. I wonder if it had anything to do with the advent of refined sugar? Although dates and honey clearly date back to biblical days and in all likelihood far beyond. Wade also notes that when she went to Japan, a friend warned her to not even try to go to the dentist. Her American sensibilities were affronted by the sight of many, many people with missing teeth, partly missing teeth (hmmm...) and very crooked teeth. In ancient Japan, in fact, a young woman's teeth were seen as "showy" and after marriage women would often blacken their teeth. Why?

Why indeed? A little more research indicates that the Japanese practice of Ohaguro (blackening one's teeth) became popular in the Helan Era (794-1192) among court nobles, commanders and samurais as a symbol of untouchable loyalty and the proof that one should not serve two masters at once. The practice then spread to young women during the Edo period from 1603-1867 who actually blackened their teeth to enhance their appearance when they were ready to find husbands. At that time black teeth were the fashion and it was thought to make women more beautiful. After marriage, blackened teeth became the symbol of fidelity. Another reason historians give for the historic practice is that black teeth further emphasized the white powder Japanese women would wear on their face. The white powder was to hide the expression on their faces and the Ohaguro was thought to be effective in further accentuating an expressionless face. One more reason for the practice of Ohaguro is noted in research: an urban legend in ancient Japan described an evil spirit that liked to feast on virgins' blood. In order to deceive the spirit, young girls--of course!--blackened their teeth. Why does the practice not continue today? The dawning of the Meiji Era in the late 1800s brought more influence from Westerners and with it the desire of Japanese to appear more like these fascinating "new" cultures and to lose confidence in many of the cultural traditions of their own. Globalization brought the fashion ideal of "white teeth" along with it until the practice of Ohaguro was actually banned by the Japanese government in February of 1986. Even then, the practice was slow to die, and it was not until Empress Shouken appeared in public without Ohaguro that the practice finally died out. In our own modern culture, the quest for white teeth is near universal. Polls on the importance of white teeth show an overwhelmingly strong preference, although interestingly, the "glow in the dark" level of whiteness exemplified in show business (think Simon Cowell) is not necessarily considered supreme. When queried, Yahoo readers note that keeping teeth at least somewhat whitened is widely perceived as a sign of good grooming and at least moderately good hygiene care. Speakers and presenters are perceived by the majority of people to be instantly less credible if they have yellow teeth or a gray, dingy smile. In fact, of all respondents in an informal study only one individual actually preferred her boyfriend with the dingy teeth she considered "part of his individual appeal." So the consensus is - culturally, you may be able to get by with less attention to dental care in a place like Japan, but by and large, if you'd like to be considered attractive by society's standards, appealing to the opposite sex and perhaps even credible within your field of study, you'd better pay at least a moderate amount of attention to maintaining white teeth. Thankfully, that job is easier than before with the help of products such as SHINE custom whitening trays and professional strength portable whitening pens and whitening gel. We're here to help!

Children’s Teeth Require Special Care

Besides regular brushing/flossing and dental care, what are the most important things to know about your child’s teeth? Actually, quite a bit. Today we’ll talk about some additional information for anyone with children, nieces, nephews or grandchildren. The help we give our children with dental health while they’re small will pay big dividends for many years to come. Complements of research from Colgate, here’s some information that’s good for every parent to know.

The Basics

When it comes to cavities, the past is the single best indicator of what can happen in the future. If your child has had a cavity, he or she is at risk of getting more. The more cavities your child has had, the more likely they are to get more cavities in the future. What this means is that your child has the bacteria necessary to make cavities and that conditions are right in your child's mouth for cavities to form. A chalky white spot, especially along the gum line, is the first visible sign that a tooth may be beginning to develop a cavity. The white spot forms when minerals begin leaching out of the tooth's outer surface (enamel). This happens when there’s bacteria in the mouth that results from exposure to carbohydrates. The carbohydrates (including sugars) make acid that attacks the enamel surface of the teeth.

Plaque is the sticky, yellowish/white film that forms on teeth, especially along the gum line. It is a mixture of bacteria and other debris. Unless the plaque is regularly and completely cleaned off, plaque can remain active and lead to cavities and gum inflammation. Children who have plaque on their upper front teeth are at high risk of developing cavities. You can check this by gently scraping a fingernail along the gum line of these four teeth. If anything comes off, it is plaque and you should talk to your child's dentist about all of the things you can do to keep it away.

The main way to prevent cavities is to clean food debris and plaque from the teeth and mouth as quickly as possible. Without the carbohydrates in food debris, cavities can't form. The bacteria in the mouth need the sugar in carbohydrates to produce acid, which then dissolves the tooth's outer enamel. Dentists recommend brushing a child’s teeth at least twice a day to clean away food debris and remove plaque.  Plaque is the soft, gooey substance that sticks to teeth a bit like jam sticks to a spoon. It is, in fact, colonies of bacteria and other organisms, clumping together along with food debris (sounds terrible, huh?) Plaque begins to form immediately after a tooth is brushed or cleaned.

Flouride

Fluoride helps replace the minerals that are lost and strengthens teeth. It's important for your child to use toothpaste with fluoride every day.  But teach your child to spit out the toothpaste completely, especially when it contains fluoride, because young children are more likely to swallow their toothpaste after brushing instead of spitting it out.  You should use only a small amount of toothpaste (the size of the child's pinky fingernail) and encourage your child to spit out as much as possible. Although children love flavored toothpastes (bubblegum, cherry, fruit punch), remember that fun flavors of toothpaste may encourage swallowing and use them with care.

It's a good idea to talk to your child's dentist about whether your child is getting the right amount of fluoride. If not, the dentist can suggest the best way to change your child's fluoride intake. Your dentist may suggest additional fluoride if your child has other factors that put your child at high risk of developing cavities. Fluoride is important for developing strong teeth that are more resistant to cavities. Since a main source of fluoride for many children is tap water, it is important for parents to know if the water they use is fluoridated. The easiest way to find out if your water is fluoridated and the concentration of fluoride in the water is to contact your local water district. Information on how to contact your water supplier should be on your water bill, or you can look in the "Local Government" section of your phone book. Your dentist or pediatrician also should be able to give you this information. Children who are at high risk of decay may need additional fluoride from mouth rinses, fluoride gels or fluoride supplements prescribed by a dentist, or fluoride treatments from a dental office.

 Sealants

 Sealants are clear or tinted plastic protective coatings that are painted onto the chewing surfaces of the back permanent teeth (molars and premolars). This is a cavity-prone area because these teeth have grooves and crevices, which dentists call pits and fissures. Food gets stuck in these crevices easily, and the crevices are harder to clean. This makes pits and fissures a perfect environment for bacteria to grow and cause cavities. Sealants cover the pits and fissures and make the chewing surface smoother, so it's harder for food to remain on the teeth. Applying sealants is a procedure that can be done during a routine dental visit. Talk to your dentist about getting sealants for your child's teeth.

So here are a few basics about your child’s dental care. Any other questions? Feel free to comment. And thanks for reading!

Do Teeth Age?

Yes, they do! 

That's probably not surprising. But just like the rest of your body, the rate and extend of your teeth's agency could vary greatly based on how well you've cared for your teeth and gums through the years. Gums too? Yes! Even if you're meticulous about brushing and flossing, you may notice that your gums have pulled back (receded) to expose more of your teeth as you grow older. Your mouth may feel drier as well. Your teeth may darken slightly due to thinning enamel that allows more of the color of the inner root to show through. Your teeth may also become more brittle and easier to break.

Sounds daunting. But here's the good news: These days, most adults can keep their natural teeth all of their lives. But with age, there's less saliva to wash away bacteria over time, which makes your teeth and gums slightly more vulnerable to decay and infection. People who've lost some or all of their natural teeth may use dentures or dental implants as a replacement (and while losing teeth is never a pleasant option, a small side benefit is that teeth made of man-made materials are permanently and perpetually white--your primary whitening challenge at that point is to maintain the whiteness of your remaining natural teeth to avoid an obvious mismatch.) 

In addition to creating a tendency to tooth decay and infection, the dryer mouth (xerostomia) older people can experience can make speaking, swallowing and tasting more difficult as well. Oral cancer is also more common among older adults. Your dentist checks for oral cancer when you go for regular cleanings and checkups.

So the moral of today's story is to do what is necessary, whatever your age, to protect those pearly whites! Meticulous brushing, flossing, and regular dental care will help keep your teeth in the most pristine condition possible, and will help keep them strong enough to withstand the periodic maintenance whitening that can benefit everyone. And clearly, proactive maintenance will protect more than the appearance of your sparkling smile--it is a contributing factor to your overall health and well-being as well. 

Excessive Teeth Whitening Could Spell Dental Disaster for Audrina Partridge

Not that the tabloid magazines are to be entirely trusted - but this week's Star Magazine reports that excessive teeth whitening could soon spell dental disaster for Audrina Partridge, an actress on t.v.'s The Hills. 

The twenty-something actress has apparently been warned she could actually risk losing her exceedingly white choppers if she doesn’t lighten up on her daily regime of do-it-yourself whitening. 

The June 7 issue of Star Magazine

reports
: ” Audrina is obsessed with home bleaching her teeth, but her dentist told her that if she keeps it up, her teeth may start to crack. They have become extremely sensitive to cole, and she’s drinking coffee and eating food at very mild temps because they hurt so bad.”
Of course SHINE customers and blog readers know that the biggest secret to effective whitening is moderation, and responsible use of professional strength whitening gel. While having access to professional strength products at an exceptionally low price is a great thing, to keep that white smile strong and healthy, it's imperative to follow the products' safety guidelines and rules. Are you listening Audrina? 

Should you whiten your pet's teeth?

This is not a joke (entirely) - there are actual products dedicated to the whitening of your pet's pearly whites. One product, which we will not call out by name, is meant to be ingested by the dog and actually contains a low grade of hydrogen peroxide, which is a variant of the hydrogen peroxide or carbide peroxide that are present at some level in virtually every product for whitening teeth. Basically, teeth whitening bleach. (SHINE uses a 22% professional level carbide peroxide gel for our custom whitening kits, and 33% carbide peroxide for the solution in our portable whitening pens, which makes the gel more viscous and is generally in contact for only a very short time with your teeth.) 

So what's the first caution on every teeth whitening product for humans? DO NOT INGEST THE GEL! Use only enough gel to cover the front surface of the teeth that are visible when you smile. Wipe away any excess (besides being bad for you, it can sting.) Use close fitting trays, if at all possible. Don't nap or sleep in the trays to be sure that you're not accidentally ingesting gel that might leak out of the trays. In an earlier blog post, I even shared the story of a friend who regularly slept in her whitening trays and developed the symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Six months and a complete colonoscopy later, she discovered by herself that her symptoms were the result of sleeping in her whitening trays and regularly and accidentally swallowing minute amounts of the gel.  

Does this sound like something you would be wanting to be feeding your dog?? 

All jokes aside, the biggest incentives to even be thinking about whitening your dog's teeth are generally related to the dog's very bad breath and to the dog's dental health. The American Veterinary Dental Society has said that by three years of age nearly 80% of dogs are showing definite signs of dental disease. The main problem is plaque, caused by feeding a dog the wrong type of diet and neglecting to take care of their teeth. Just as with humans, there is increasing evidence that dental bacteria and plaque can create a threat to the dog's overall health, as well as create painful decay (generally the only way to remove advanced plaque from a pet's teeth is under general anesthesia, and if the problem is severe enough, some of the dog's teeth may even have to be removed.) 

The first visible signs of dental distress for your dog are the unsightly yellowy/brown look of their teeth and their terrible breath. (Have you ever heard the term "doggy-breath"?) So the topic isn't entirely bogus. But where your pet is concerned, what can you do? 

First of all, consider your dog's diet. Don't relay too heavily on mushy canned foods. Make your dog's primary diet something crunchy and hard. Baby carrots are a wonderful doggy treat (and a good way to protect your dog's svelte figure as well). Hard dog biscuits are good. Some biscuits are even specially designed to help promote cleaning and whitening. Obviously, you should avoid sugar-based treats. 

Dog chew toys are another tool in the arsenal. The scraping effect that happens when the dog chews aggressively on a semi-firm toy is also helping to clean debris. The toy should be at least semi-flexible--otherwise they may break your dog's teeth or cause a choking hazard (one of Oprah's beloved dogs died as the result of choking on a toy ball.) 

Should you actually attempt to brush your dog's teeth? Actually, yes, at least occasionally. So how does one master this unseemly task? 

With kindness, a sense of humor and definitely with a tooth brush that is not your own. Pet stores actually carry special tooth brushes and toothpaste for dogs. Don't use human toothpaste - it foams up and dogs hate the taste. Some stores and websites actually carry disposable dog toothbrushes that can fit over your thumb. Maybe you can persuade your dog this is simply a harmless and enjoyable gum massage? Well, perhaps. 

Be gentle, be patient, and end the process with a tooth friendly treat. 

If your dog is really devious and stubborn you may have to resort to the trick you use with a baby or toddler who is clamping their teeth, such as biting while nursing (sadly, the voice of direct experience here). Plug his nose. The toddler, or baby or pet will have no choice but to quickly unclamp the teeth and open their mouth to get air. 

If your dog is big enough or stubborn enough to make brushing completely impossible (and isn't being handled well enough by crunchy carrots and treats), you may have to resort to more frequent veterinarian checkups and leave the task to your vet. 

So - in summary - to at least some degree, it is important to consider the color and appearance of your dog or cat's teeth. But please, at all costs, save the whitening gel you purchase from SHINE for the pearly whites of your own.