3 Ways to Whiten Your Teeth

Posted on: 9 September 2016

Having white teeth can boost your confidence. Most people find yellow or deeply stained teeth unattractive. Nevertheless, dental discoloration is usually treatable. Here are a few ways that your teeth can be whitened.

In-Office Dental Whitening

If you would like to have your teeth professionally whitened in your dentist's office, the dental professional can safely perform the treatment for you. During a professional whitening treatment, the dentist uses protective guards to help pull your lips and other soft tissues of your mouth away from the teeth to minimize any irritation from the whitening solution. Additionally, a protective gel or solution may be applied to cover your gums.

Once the soft tissues of your mouth are adequately protected, the dentist applies a whitening product to your teeth. The product, which is likely to be peroxide-based, bleaches the dental stains away. Once the solution has effectively covered your teeth, the dentist may apply an ultraviolet light to intensify the effectiveness of the whitening solution.

After the professional teeth-whitening session, you may notice that the color of your teeth has been whitened by several shades from a single appointment. Still, a few appointments may be needed to reach the level of whiteness that you desire, especially if your teeth have been deeply stained.

Over-the-Counter Whitening Kits

Many different whitening products are available over the counter at local stores. The kits are effective at whitening the teeth but generally take a longer period of use to achieve the effects of a professional whitening treatment. Additionally, it is important to adhere to the instructions of the product precisely. In some cases, people who have used at-home whitening kits have used the product longer then directed or more often than prescribed. This can result in extreme dental sensitivity.

Often, over-the-counter kits allow the application of a whitening solution using a mouth tray and a whitening gel or plastic strips that already coated with the whitening solution. Some kits even include tiny brushes that are used to paint the dental bleach onto the teeth.

Whitening Toothpastes and Rinses

Whitening toothpastes and rinses do not usually produce the level of whitening that can be achieved through a whitening kit or an in-office bleaching session. However, the products are effective at preventing new dental stains. Hydrogen peroxide is usually the active ingredient in the whitening rinses and pastes.

To learn more ways to whiten your teeth, schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist in your area. You can find a cosmetic dentist near you by visiting websites such as http://www.cresthillfamilydental.com.

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