You may want to have whiter teeth while staring in the mirror. Good thing is that you can achieve a brighter and whiter smile with the help of teeth whitening procedures. Teeth whitening products available now a day are simpler and more effective than ever, thanks to an overall advancement in the field of dentistry. The products and procedures used for teeth whitening these days are virtually hassle-free.
Reasons for extrinsic tooth discoloration
Some oral and dental habits may not seem to have a significant impact on your teeth but can change the color of your teeth in the long-term. A few habits that can result in discolored teeth may include the following.
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
- Drinking coffee or tea
- Drinking sodas
- Eating dark-colored foods
While it is good to avoid these dental or dietary habits to prevent tooth discoloration, you may want to consider some teeth whitening options to get rid of the existing discoloration. Here are a few options that you can consider for teeth whitening.
Whitening toothpaste and rinses
Toothpaste for whitening usually contains mild abrasives that soften the stains and leave the rest of the job for the toothbrush. Mouthwashes, on the other hand, use hydrogen peroxide, which is a bleaching agent. This ingredient not only whitens your teeth but also freshens up your breath. The inclusion of mild abrasives in the composition makes these products safe for daily use.
You may also use special whitening toothbrushes that have special condensed bristles. These toothbrushes add extra effectiveness to the overall whitening procedure.
Chewing gums and dental strips
If you want to use a bit more specific teeth whitening products at home, you may want to use chewing gums and whitening strips. You can chew a few types of gums after meals. These sugarless gums remove food debris after you finish your meal. The primary purpose of these gums is the stimulation in the production of saliva, washing away food debris and bacteria. The whiteners used in these gums coat the teeth to prevent staining.
Whitening strips use their hydrogen peroxide gel side to initiate the whitening action. All you have to do is to apply the gel side of the strip onto your teeth, and let it remain there for about 30 minutes. You may want to repeat the process to get better results.
Tray-based teeth whiteners
An over-the-counter teeth whitening option is to get tray-based teeth whiteners. These whiteners resemble mouthguards. If over-the-counter whitening trays do not fit over your teeth, you may ask your dentist to prepare you a custom whitening tray. To use this tray, you first have to fill it with a lower concentration of peroxide solution. Wearing it on teeth facilitates the whitening action.
The in-office teeth whitening solution
If you are unable to get results from other teeth whitening options, you may want to visit your dentist for an in-office treatment. Because your dentist is a professional person at work, he or she may use a higher concentration of whitening agents while making sure that your teeth and surrounding tissues are not damaged during the process. You may want to speak to your dentist first if you want to get this treatment.
