Teeth Cleaning vs. Whitening – What’s the Difference?
A healthy and beautiful smile can be an impression. However, when it is a matter of making your teeth look and be healthy, most individuals tend to use teeth cleaning and teeth whitening interchangeably. Although they both help to make your smile look good, the purposes of these are very different. We should learn the distinction and when you may have to use each of them.
What Is Teeth Cleaning?
Prophylaxis is a dental treatment done by a dentist or hygienist which involves the cleaning of the teeth. The primary aim is to keep the mouth healthy and eliminate the harmful deposits which cannot be removed by brushing the mouth.
In the cleaning, special tools are used to remove plaque and tartar accumulations in the dentist. Bacteria can be found in these deposits and lead to gum diseases and cavities in case they are not taken care of. It also involves brushing your teeth and a few times adding fluoride as an added precaution.
In a word, teeth cleaning is concerned with health- maintaining your teeth and gums in a health condition.
Why Is Teeth Cleaning Important?
Notwithstanding the twice daily brushing, there are parts of your mouth that are difficult to reach. With time, plaque is turned into tartar, which is impossible to eliminate at home.
This is the reason why frequent cleaning is important:
The benefits of Fluoride-toothpaste are that it helps to prevent gum disease, eliminates bacteria, and lowers inflammation.
✓ Helps keep enamel safe: Stops decay which may hurt the surface.
✓ Freshens breath: Gets rid of the odor causing bacteria and build up.
✓ Benefits the general health: The poor oral hygiene has been associated with heart disease and diabetes.
The majority of Dentists would suggest that you clean your mouth every half year to maintain a healthy mouth.
What Is Teeth Whitening?
The case of teeth whitening, however, is concerned with looks only. It is a cosmetic denture treatment that aims at making your teeth light and eliminating discoloration or stain.
The dental clinic and home-based kits can be used to do whitening treatments. Professional whitening is a procedure that uses bleaching agent mostly hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide which disintegrates stains and lightens the enamel.
To put it simply, teeth whitening helps to make your smile brighter, however, it does not substitute cleaning or it cannot heal the gums.
Common Causes of Tooth Discoloration
The natural shine on your teeth may be lost with time because of various reasons.
Common causes include:
- Frequent intake of coffee, tea or red wine.
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Poor oral hygiene
- Aging, which thins enamel
- Certain medications
Whitening of teeth can be used to minimize the number of these stains and give your teeth their lighter shade again.
Teeth Cleaning vs. Whitening – The Key Differences
| Aspect | Teeth Cleaning | Teeth Whitening |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Improves oral health | Enhances tooth color |
| Procedure | Removes plaque, tartar, and bacteria | Uses bleaching agents to lighten enamel |
| Performed by | Dentist or hygienist | Dentist or cosmetic specialist |
| Results | Cleaner, healthier mouth | Whiter, brighter smile |
| Frequency | Every 6 months | As needed, depending on lifestyle |
| Effect on Teeth | Prevents decay and gum disease | Cosmetic improvement only |
When Should You Get Teeth Cleaning?
Everybody should have their teeth cleaned irrespective of their age. You need to have a cleaning in case you notice:
- Bloody gums during brushing.
- Persistent bad breath
- Rough or yellow deposits on teeth.
- Gum itch or irritation of the gums.
Although you may not notice problems, regular brushings will identify any dental problems at an early stage and ensure your smile is healthy.
When Should You Get Teeth Whitening?
Whitening is a personal option and is best used when one needs to enhance the color of his or her teeth, just on the aesthetic grounds. It is ideal in anticipating special events like weddings, interview, or other social events.
Nevertheless, you should ensure that you clean your teeth first before they are whitened. Whitening agents perform optimally in clean surfaces that are not covered with plaque. This can make the guaranteed even and long-term results.
Can You Do Both?
Yes, absolutely. Combining the two treatments is the best way of achieving the results by many people.
The process usually starts by professional cleaning with the aim of removing the tartar and surface stains. Whitening, in its turn, can be successfully used to make them brighter.
A clean surface also makes sure that the whitening agent can penetrate evenly on your smile to provide a natural and evenly spread shine on it.
Professional Whitening vs. At-Home Kits
Although the home-based whitening kits are convenient, the professional treatment is more fast and safe.
Dentists make higher quality products that are designed in your teeth. Sensitivity of the teeth or irritation of the gums is also monitored by them to reduce the same.
Home kits are also effective but might require more time to start providing visible improvement. Never pick any method of whitening without consulting your dentist.
Which One Is Right for You?
When you are aiming at orally health, then choose routine tooth cleaning. Whitening is the way to go in case you are interested in cosmetic enhancement.
To the majority, the combination of the two is the ideal approach. A healthy clean base helps to increase a whiter and long-lived smile.
At the End
Cleaning and whitening of teeth can be regarded as different, but this difference is enormous in the context of dental services. Cleaning will help to keep your mouth healthy and whitening will help in making your teeth look better.
Cleaning can be considered as taking care of your teeth and whitening as your self-esteem.
They will all assist you to obtain not only a beautiful smile but also a healthy one.