You're unhappy with the color of your teeth. No matter how many times you brush and floss, you still can't remove those dark deep stains that affect your appearance. What on earth are you supposed to do?
The good news is that modern dentistry has many ways to make your teeth sparkle and shine. These include the use of whitening toothpastes, over-the-counter whitening strips and gels, tray-based whitening products, in-office whitening, bondings and veneers.
The downside: not everything works and results may vary. To be on the safe side, consult a reliable dentist and follow instructions carefully.
"Teeth whitening is ideal for people who have healthy, unrestored teeth (no fillings) and gums. Individuals with yellow tones to their teeth respond best. But this cosmetic procedure is not recommended for everyone," according to WebMD and the Cleveland Clinic Department of Dentistry.
Furthermore, the effects of the whitening systems I will discuss below don't last. How long you keep those pearly whites depends on your diet, your habits and the condition of your teeth.
"Whitening is not permanent. People who expose their teeth to foods and beverages that cause staining may see the whiteness start to fade in as little as one month. Those who avoid foods and beverages that stain may be able to wait one year or longer before another whitening treatment or touch-up is needed," said WebMD.
Obviously, the simplest way to whiten teeth is to use a whitening toothpaste. In general, all toothpastes remove surface stains since they contain mild abrasives. Other products may have gentle polishers or chemicals that are more effective.
But don't expect miracles since whitening toothpastes only work on surface stains and won't change the natural color of your teeth. At best, they can lighten your tooth's color by about one shade.
Whitening strips and gels do their job with the help of peroxide-based solutions. The usual ingredient is 10 percent carbamide peroxide. Gels are "painted" to the surface of the teeth by means of a small brush. This is usually done twice a day for 14 days. Strips are applied twice daily for 30 minutes. Gels are generally cheaper than strips but the effects of these two systems typically last for about four months.
Tray-based tooth whitening products can be purchased over-the-counter or from a dentist. This procedure uses a mouth guard-like tray that is filled with a peroxide gel and worn for a few hours daily or during the night for four weeks or longer.
"With dentist-supervised at-home bleaching products, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth and make a mouthpiece tray that is customized to exactly fit your teeth. This customization allows for maximum contact between the whitening gel, which is applied to the mouthpiece tray, and the teeth. A custom-made tray also minimizing the gel's contact with gum tissue," explained WebMD.
"Over-the-counter whitening products also contain a mouthpiece tray, but the 'one-size-fits-all' approach means that the fit will not be exact. Ill-fitting trays can irritate the gum and soft tissue by allowing more bleaching gel to seep onto these tissues," WebMD warned.
Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine http://www.HealthLinesNews.com
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