Eliminate the Yellow with Teeth Whitening Products and Procedures
When you look in the mirror, what is the first thing you notice? Is it your yellow, stained teeth? If so, then you need to take advantage of the many teeth whitening products that are on the market. You can use teeth whitening gel in the comfort of your own home, visit your doctor for laser teeth whitening procedures, or even use teeth whitening toothpastes to brighten up your smile. Before you choose one of the many teeth whitening kits on the market, you should know what to look for in the best teeth whitening products!What Causes Discoloration of the Teeth
If you need teeth whitening products, then chances are your teeth have been stained. There are two types of stains that can occur on the teeth. Surface stains are called extrinsic stains. These are caused by the foods and beverages you consume. They can also be caused by smoking. Most of the time a professional prophylactic cleaning can remove these. When this does not work, you can have your teeth bleached to remove extrinsic stains.Sometimes stains are on the inside of the teeth. These are known as intrinsic stains, and are caused by damage to the tooth or exposure to some chemicals or minerals while the adult teeth are still being formed. These are more difficult to remove, but they can be removed with professional teeth whitening kits.
Choosing Whitening in the Dentist's Office
If you have staining that you would like to take care of, one option is to have your teeth lightened by your dentist in his or her office. This is the fastest way to have your teeth lightened. The dentist can do this by using a peroxide gel and applying it to the teeth after painting a protective barrier over the gums. This gel is left on the teeth for a while and then removed. The procedure may be repeated, but often one application is enough.Another option you can pursue if you want your dentist to do your teeth whitening is laser teeth whitening. Laser teeth whitening uses the peroxide gel but activates it with a laser. This provides the best teeth whitening results of any procedure, but it is quite expensive. If you are dealing with severely stained teeth, however, you may want to consider this option.
Take Home Kits from the Dentist
If you would like to lower the cost of your teeth whitening while still benefiting from professional care, consider getting a take-home kit from your dentist. These professional teeth whitening kits also contain peroxide, but in a lower dosage. This does not require you to protect your gums before application, and you will usually apply the teeth whitening gel to your teeth with a bleaching tray that is customized to fit your mouth.Over-the-Counter Options
While getting your teeth professionally bleached is a great idea, it can be quite expensive. If you want to benefit from whitening but need to lower the cost even further, consider using one of the many over-the-counter options. You can purchase gels that you paint on your teeth, teeth whitening gel that you put in a one-size-fits-all tray, or even teeth whitening strips that you apply to your teeth for a period of time. This is an affordable option for those who need just a little bit of teeth whitening. Before you purchase any over-the-counter kits, be sure to look online for teeth whitening reviews. Some products work better than others, and teeth whitening reviews will help you determine whether or not you are getting the best teeth whitening product you can afford.Potential Dangers of Whitening Your Teeth
For the most part, whitening your teeth is a safe way to brighten your smile. However, there are some dangers in whitening teeth that you should be aware of before purchasing a product. One of the most common dangers in whitening teeth that people experience is sensitivity in their teeth. Any time you bleach your teeth you can have a temporary increase in sensitivity to hot and cold. Sometimes touch can bring sensations of pain in your teeth after bleaching. This is usually temporary, though, so is not a cause for too much concern.Many people who lighten their teeth report some irritation of the gums. Again, this is temporary and not a cause for concern. When you stop bleaching your teeth, your gums lose this sensitivity quite quickly.
If you have any restorations in your mouth, such as a crown or veneer, you need to know that one of the dangers in whitening teeth is the fact that the whitening procedures do not have any impact on these restorative pieces. This can cause a multi-colored smile, with your newly lightened teeth being a different color than your restored teeth. This is usually only noticeable if the veneer or crown is in the front of your mouth. Otherwise, most teeth whitening products are completely safe and can give you the beautiful smile you are dreaming about.
