HEALTH
Top Reasons Why Teeth Whitening Is Essential For Many People

You only have to take a look at your favourite Hollywood actor or actress and you’ll find a perfect set of shining white teeth. It has become the norm in celebrity circles and you’re unlikely to see any success unless you join the club.
That’s certainly one reason why people are getting their teeth whitened. But, in reality there are relatively few people trying to break into the movies. Yet, teeth whitening is still seen by many as essential.
The Teeth Whitening Process
Teeth whitening can be done at home with the use of toothpaste or whitening kits. However, you should proceed with caution as, done incorrectly, it can actually damage your teeth. That’s why it’s better to use the services of a good dentist, such as this Erskineville dentist.
They will use a special compound and infrared heat lamps to quickly and safely whiten your teeth. This makes it the safer and preferred option.
Confidence
As whitened teeth continue to appear everywhere it’s increasingly common to feel that your teeth aren’t good enough. This can cause you to keep your teeth hidden. However, this can be difficult and many people concerned about this will start avoiding social occasions. The result is a lack of confidence which is supplemented further by the lack of social contact.
Having your teeth whitened will help you to feel more confident in social situations and, therefore, boost your self-confidence and often improve how successful you are in life.
Special Occasions
There are several times in life when you want to look your best, such as at a wedding, anniversary, or even a graduation. When you want to look your best you need to be happy with the way you look and smile. If you’re not, tooth whitening is an essential step toward looking your best and enjoying the special occasion properly.
For Jobs
It’s not just Hollywood that values the white smile. You’ll find plenty of employers judge based on looks, even if they are not supposed to. Therefore, if you turn up with discoloured teeth you are much less likely to get the job.
Whitening your teeth beforehand will help you feel confident and the potential employer see you as a potential candidate. It may not seem essential but it can make a big difference to your job application success rate.
Age
As you age it’s natural for the enamel to start wearing away on your teeth. This allows the dentin underneath to show through and it’s naturally a yellow hue. It’s not possible to reverse the effects of ageing but whitening the teeth will help them to look younger and that will make you feel younger.
It’s worth noting this is particularly relevant if you smoked for years as this will cause your teeth to discolour. Whitening and making them look better although it won’t repair any damage you’ve done to your teeth or your health.
All you have to do is talk to your dentist regarding how much lighter you want your teeth to be. They will handle the rest.

Khalil ur Rehman is a proud born and raised in Abbottabad. Khalil has worked as a journalist for nearly a decade having contributed to several large publications including the Yahoo News and The Verge. As a journalist for The Hear Up, Khalil covers climate and science news. [email protected]
HEALTH
Dental Sedation 101: How Does It Work? Why Do You Need One?

Visiting a dentist can be scary and may lead to fear and anxiety. You may have heard stories from your friends saying dental procedures are painful, or you have had negative experiences with your previous dentist. Also, some dental treatments may scare you away, and you’d prefer struggling with a toothache to visiting a dentist.
Thankfully, efficient and painless dentistry is now available through sedation. Dental sedation, also known as sedation dentistry or sleep dentistry, is the use of medicines and relaxation procedures to help patients feel calm and comfortable during dental treatments.
If you’re about to undergo dental sedation, knowing how they work and why you need them is vital when preparing for sedation services. This lets you know what will work best for you and helps you mentally prepare for your procedure. Fortunately, this article discusses how sedation works and some of the reasons why you might need one. Read on.
How Does Dental Sedation Work?
Dental sedation is primarily administered in three ways. The type of sedation you go through will depend on various factors, including your anxiety level, health history, and personal preferences. The three types of sedation include:
- Oral Sedation
This is the most common type of sedation dentistry that doesn’t require injections. Your dentist will prescribe a pill approximately an hour before your appointment. These drugs work by minimizing the activity in the section of the brain in charge of fear and anxiety. When your time for treatment reaches, you’ll be fully relaxed and ready for the procedure.
- Intravenous (IV) Sedation
In this method, your dentist will insert a fine needle into a vein in the back of your hand or arm. They then connect the needle to an intravenous tube that administers sedatives instantly into your bloodstream. With this option, you may have minimal insight into your surroundings and minimal memory of the technique. Thus, IV Sedation is ideal for people with severe dental phobia.
During your treatment, your dentist will always check your blood pressure, oxygen levels, heart rate, and pulse rate to ensure you don’t have any adverse reactions to the sedative. In case of anything, they may adjust your dosage or use reversal drugs.
- Nitrous Oxide Sedation
This type of sedation is a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide. This sedation, also known as ‘laughing gas,’ will be administered by your dentist using a mask. The gas you inhale enables you to create euphoric feelings in the process. Additionally, it relieves anxiety and pain, allowing you to relax and stay comfortable during the dental treatment procedure.
Why Do You Need Dental Sedation?
Dental sedation can be administered in three ways. The type of sedation you go through will depend on various factors, including your anxiety level, health history, and personal preferences. The three types of sedation include:
- To Relieve Anxiety
One of the most significant reasons you need dental sedation is to relieve anxiety. Being nervous can make you avoid or delay going to the dentist until you experience severe pain and discomfort, which can lead to complex methods to repair and restore your teeth. With dental sedation, you overcome your fears and anxieties and obtain the necessary attention to solve your dental issues.
- To Reduce Pain
Most people don’t want to visit dental clinics because they don’t want to feel pain during dental procedures. Dentists are well-versed in various types of sedation and will help you to remain cozy and relaxed throughout your treatment. They’ll tailor the procedure and administer sedatives to address your requirements and ensure you don’t feel pain.
- To Lower Gag Reflex
A gag reflex is an automatic throat closing when you try swallowing an awful object. The primary goal of the gag reflex is to contract the throat to hinder you from choking. This is good because it prevents any item from going down your throat during dentistry.
During a dental procedure, however, the gag reflex can be an obstacle. Your dentist may sometimes want to go deep inside your oral cavity, but the gag reflex may hinder that. Dental sedation paralyzes this effect, allowing dentists to go as deep as they want without any hindrance and making the process faster.
- To Trigger Anterograde Amnesia
The phobia you may be having can be due to former unpleasant dental experiences that increase with each visit. This is especially true if you feel any discomfort.
Anterograde amnesia is a condition that lowers your ability to remember and keep new information. Dental sedation triggers this condition, preventing your brain from establishing new memories during the dental procedure. When your brain doesn’t remember what happened during treatment, it won’t make you panic, reducing the fear you may have on subsequent visits.
- To Streamline Dental Procedures
Dental treatments like root canals and fillings can be painful without sedatives and anesthetics. As a patient, you may squirm in the chair when your dentist is working on your teeth, interfering with the process. Thankfully, with dental sedation, you remain calm as you won’t feel any pain and won’t interfere with the method. As a result, your dentist can work faster and more effectively without fearing how you’ll react.
Conclusion
Dental issues are common but treatable when you seek medications early. However, most people postpone or delay appointments due to anxiety and fear of the procedures.
Fortunately, sedation dentistry alleviates your worries, anxiety, and pain. It also enables you to remain calm and comfortable during your treatment. With this, you have no reason to live with a decaying tooth or receding gums, but you can go for painless treatments and restore your smile.

Khalil ur Rehman is a proud born and raised in Abbottabad. Khalil has worked as a journalist for nearly a decade having contributed to several large publications including the Yahoo News and The Verge. As a journalist for The Hear Up, Khalil covers climate and science news. [email protected]