Everyone wants a bright, beautiful smile that gives them the confidence to power through their day. This is why teeth whitening has taken over the dental industry and you, the consumer, are seeing the term everywhere. There are teeth whitening toothpastes, teeth whitening gums, home whitening kits, dental procedures, home remedies and every other option under the sun.
Our guide to the do’s and don’ts of teeth whitening will help you understand what you need to safely achieve a bright, white smile. From covering the reasons teeth get stained in the first place to the right methods for whitening, our tips will help you achieve the celebrity smile of your dreams.
The Problem of Staining
The simplest reason that people don’t have bright, white teeth is staining. The food we eat and the drinks we drink contribute to a slow, but steady effect of tooth staining over time. From coffee and tea to certain foods, teeth can become stained over time.
Another reason for yellowed or discolored teeth is age. Over time, the protective layer of your teeth erodes due to the acids we consume and the bacteria buildup in our mouths. This layer exposes more of the bone material underneath which is yellower and discolored. These factors combine to give people off white teeth. Luckily, staining can be counteracted or reversed with teeth whitening.
Things to Avoid
While there are many ways to remove stains and brighten your smile, the most common is to use chemicals which bleach the teeth. These chemicals work to remove the stains on your teeth like detergent taking stains off clothes while making sure not to harm your teeth, gums or surrounding tissue. The problem with teeth whitening is that marketing has trumped professional advice. The biggest factor in actually whitening teeth is using these chemicals consistently for an extended period of time.
Using things like whitening gum or toothpaste doesn’t work because there is not enough of the chemical. Other home remedies such as brushing your teeth with baking soda do more harm than good to your enamel that protects your teeth. Whitening that uses natural materials or chemicals can remove some surface stains but do not get into the deep stains that cause the most problems.
Where Do I Get My Teeth Whitened?
The best way to whiten your teeth is with the help of your dentist and dentist office. Your dentist can help you actually achieve the smile you want by using professional treatments and chemicals. These treatments use the appropriate yet safe concentrations of whitening chemicals for the appropriate amount of time to achieve real results. With the help of your dentist, there are two options for serious teeth whitening:
- In-Office Treatment: In-office whitening refers to a process where whitening gel is applied to your teeth using a tray mold of your actual teeth and gums. This tray keeps the gel on the teeth for 20 minutes while making sure it stays off your gums.
- At-Home Treatment: The best thing about professional teeth whitening is that you can do it at home for cheaper, using the exact same process as the dentist’s office. After an initial visit where a tray mold is made for you, you can use the mold at home with gel kits from your dentist’s office to whiten your teeth on your own schedule.
These two treatments use the same chemicals and are the best, most effective way in the long run In addition, with at home treatments being cheaper than the office treatments, whitening has become more accessible than ever before.
If you’d like to whiten your teeth, contact us today at Hassey Do Duy and make a whitening appointment. Our dental professionals can provide you with the best in class treatments and guide you through the cheap and easy process of whitening your smile and improving your confidence.
