Simple Ways to Whiten Your Teeth

Having white teeth is like adding a few points to your confidence. Nearly every one of us desires bright white teeth to show off when we smile. Luckily, teeth whitening helps with that and can be done at home or at the dentist’s office. The only prerequisite—the teeth need to be healthy with no replacements or fillings. Whitening is a great procedure for anyone with yellow-ish teeth or stains. However, this cosmetic procedure is not everyone’s cup of tea, as a dentist would have to first analyze your oral health before deciding if the treatment is necessary.

Dentist-Recommended Teeth Whitening Procedure

Next time you visit your dentist, enquire about tray-based teeth whiteners. These are devices like a mouth guard that contain whitening gels inside. Based on the dentist’s instructions, you may need to put the tray on for 2 to 4 hours to get visibly bright teeth.

In-office Teeth Whitening

Another way to make your teeth a few times brighter is to go for an in-office whitening session. In this case, the dentist uses a bleaching procedure that includes heat, laser, or a special light. Although more pricey, this approach offers immediate results and improves your teeth color by 3 to 8 shades. While you may require more than one sitting to witness dramatic results, you can see a significant change after the very first time.

Self-Administering Teeth Whitening Procedures

Apart from professional treatments, there are self-administering options, and toothpaste is by far the most basic teeth whitening agent. Usually, all toothpaste contains mild abrasives that keep your teeth white. When you choose selective products that contain polishing and chemical agents that whiten, you are likely to see much better results - by up to one shade.

Other than toothpaste, you can also use various over-the-counter teeth whitening gels and strips available at your nearest pharmacy and follow the instructions printed on them. The main reason to follow the instructions is that they contain peroxide, a chemical that can have adverse effects if you skip expert instructions.

You can also use mouth rinses as they contain hydrogen peroxide and other agents that allow for teeth whitening. Rinse your mouth every day for about a minute and witness a noticeable change in a few months’ time.

The bottom line is that getting teeth whitened is not an impossible task. At your next biannual visit to the dentist, discuss the possible options you have to achieve your dental aesthetic goals.