A bright smile is the ultimate boost of confidence anyone can ever have. What is the best way to achieve this bright smile other than a teeth whitening procedure? Getting these necessary procedures done is a part of looking presentable for any social setting.
Imagine feeling this internal boost of confidence knowing you can smile and get things done! If you don’t feel the same way, it’s time to try out a teeth whitening procedure now! Read along to discover the safest and most effective ways of teeth whitening.
Why Consider Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is a procedure that everyone should opt for at least once in their life. It’s not always about yellow or stained teeth. Sometimes the original white teeth can start to lose their enamel with aging, and going through a whitening process can just help you get your original shine back. Here’s why you should consider teeth whitening:
Aerated Drinks: If you are a fan of aerated drinks then you definitely need to consider teeth whitening because these drinks most definitely strip your teeth off the whiteness in the long run. This can cause discolored and yellow teeth. Not just aerated drinks but other regulars like coffee, tea and even red wine can cause the same side effects on your teeth.
Tobacco Consumption : Smoking or consuming tobacco also leads to tooth discoloration. It can cause significant damage to the tooth enamel, requiring a whitening procedure at some point of time.
Poor Oral Hygiene : Not brushing your teeth twice a day or improper brushing and flossing can also cause discoloration. Similarly, other factors such as medications or even aging can naturally deplete the tooth enamel.
At-home Teeth Whitening Techniques
If you’re facing discoloration issues because of any of the factors listed above, all you require is a teeth whitening procedure, and you will be ready to shine again!
Let’s check out some of the safest and effective teeth whitening procedures that can be done at home:
Whitening Strips : You can get whitening strips from dental clinics or order them online. These quick and easy at-home teeth whitening strips will do the thing if you only have mild discoloration. These strips come with small amounts of whitening gel on them. Hence, when you follow the application instructions, your teeth become whiter in appearance. This is a very safe and effective teeth whitening technique.
Whitening Gels with Trays: This is a teeth whitening method wherein you will get a separate whitening gel and a tray that would fit your teeth. Such type of treatment usually requires you to apply the gel inside the tray and then put the tray on your teeth. You need to repeat this process for about a week for 15 to 30 minutes daily. The time period may vary as per the teeth colour and brightening level required.
Now this is a process that is better done by the professionals. Even though many of these at-home kits provide satisfactory results, it is always best to consult or get the treatments done from your dentists. In this particular case, the trays might not fit well with your teeth as each set of teeth is unique. If you have misaligned teeth then the whitening gel might not reach adequately at all points of your teeth resulting in an uneven color overall.
Some of the kits nowadays provide trays that are designed to boil and bite so that they can mold into the exact shape of your teeth. However, these too, cannot really provide appropriate results at all times.
Whitening Toothpastes: Many brands have launched special whitening toothpastes that are made of certain abrasives and mild bleaching agents helping your teeth to become whiter over time. Toothpastes are a gradual process and require more time than the other two options listed above.
Whitening toothpastes are the best way to go if you want to remove a few surface stains. However this is not really effective to get rid of deep discoloration. You can include this in your daily routine to prevent further discoloration from daily use products like coffee, tea, etc.
Whitening with Home Ingredients : If you want to try whitening your teeth with daily kitchen ingredients then you can try using Baking Soda or activated charcoal. Just brushing lightly with these can help in removing surface stains. However, remember that this should be done maximum once a week. Increased frequency may result in more harm than good.
You can also dilute apple cider vinegar in two parts water and swish it for about 30 seconds and rinse well. This acidic mixture will help in breaking down stains. Remember to not brush immediately after swishing as it leaves the enamel really soft.
LED Whitening Kit: This is a more evolved and technologically advanced process similar to that of whitening strips and whitening gels with trays. In this kit you are supposed to apply a whitening gel to your teeth directly or on to a tray and then insert the LED mouthpiece. The same process also works after putting on whitening strips. This mouthpiece emanates LED light which speeds up the whitening process of the gel giving you faster results. This light is safer than UV making it a safe and effective way of teeth whitening.
Conclusion
Even though these at-home techniques are easily available in dental clinics or to order online, they might not always solve your problems 100%. Sometimes you need stronger treatments which can only be prescribed or conducted by your dentists. These at-home treatments should also not be practiced without dental consultation first because some of the abrasives and chemicals might not suit your type of teeth or gums. Hence, the safest way is to always consult your dentist for these procedures.
If you decide to use these at-home teeth whitening techniques, you have to follow the given instructions thoroughly. More is not always better. Do not increase the time spans or applications more than the given instructions. It might result in sore gums or further discoloration. Make sure you read the manuals properly and follow the given rules and you are all set for your bright and shiny teeth!
