Does Blue Light Actually Whiten Teeth?

Blue light alone does not have a whitening effect. The purpose of the blue light is to speed up the teeth whitening process. It should be used with a bleaching solution. The combination of chemical and blue light significantly increases the final whiteness level of the teeth.

Does Blue Light Actually Whiten Teeth?
12.05.2023
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Yellowing and staining of the teeth is an important problem that occurs in many people at an advanced age. Even if dental hygiene is practiced perfectly, daily habits such as smoking, alcohol, tea and coffee can yellow teeth.

The process of lightening the color of a tooth is called teeth whitening. Whitening is performed by physically removing the stain on the tooth or lightening its color with a chemical reaction.

There are some products for whitening teeth, called teeth whitening gels, pastes or powders. These products are used to remove deep stains on the surface of the teeth. For professional teeth whitening, bleaches such as hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide are used.

Bleaches that cause a whitening effect are the fastest and most effective way to lighten the color of teeth. This is because bleaches can penetrate into the tooth. In this way, it not only removes surface stains, but also changes the internal color of the tooth through a chemical reaction.

The use of bleach on teeth causes the teeth to dry out and increase their sensitivity. The longer the bleach stays on the teeth, the worse this effect becomes. Therefore, the ideal situation is for the bleach to stay on the teeth for a short time.

A way to speed up the chemical whitening process is to use blue light. Blue light is not a tooth whitener. Blue light acts as a catalyst, speeding up the chemical reaction. This allows for a shorter teeth whitening process and better results in the same amount of time.

In the past, ultraviolet (UV) light was used to whiten teeth with blue light. The radiation produced by ultraviolet light can cause significant health problems by mutating cells. These concerns have led to a review of the use of ultraviolet light.

Today, ultraviolet light is being replaced by LED lights, which eliminate the risk of unwanted radiation and are highly reliable. LEDs with bright light consume less power, heat up less and last longer.

Teeth whitening with blue light is professionally applied in dental clinics. There are also teeth whitening kits designed for home use. Home kits are not as powerful and effective as those found in a dental clinic. This is to protect the user against incorrect application.

When brightening teeth with blue light, the mixture containing bleach is first applied to the teeth. The blue light is then directed onto the teeth. Since the blue LED light is very bright, direct exposure should be avoided.

Blue light alone does not have a whitening effect. The purpose of the blue light is to speed up the teeth whitening process. It should be used with a bleaching solution. The combination of chemical and blue light significantly increases the final whiteness level of the teeth.

Emre Yılmaz, the founder of Lighting Portal, graduated from Atılım University Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering in 2013, and since then has been involved in the management and product development activities of state-supported projects in the lighting industry. He completed his master's degree at Gazi University Industrial Design Engineering Department and continues his education in the doctorate program of the same department.
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