If you are not satisfied with the twinkle your teeth get from daily brushing and flossing, there are several teeth-whitening tricks that can take your smile to the next level of brightness. You can use whitening toothpastes, at-home bleaching or dentist bleaching treatments to get your teeth as white as possible. There are also quick changes you can make to your diet to prevent tooth staining.
Whitening Toothpastes
Whitening toothpastes remove surface stains on your teeth with mildly abrasive chemicals, not bleach. The toothpaste manufacturer may also use polishing agents that make your teeth cleaner, whiter and give them sparkle. You can find many whitening toothpaste brands at your local pharmacy, drugstore or large retail variety store. When you select a whitening toothpaste, make sure to check that it has a seal of approval from the American Dental Association. While whitening toothpastes can reduce staining on your teeth, they cannot make your teeth as white as bleaching techniques.
At-Home Bleaching
You can whiten your teeth with an at-home bleaching by using either whitening gel kits or whitening strips. You can buy both of these whitening techniques over the counter and they both use a peroxide gel bleaching agent, however the application is different. Gel kits use a mouth tray similar to a dentist office bleaching kit, however, the peroxide solution is slightly weaker. Teeth whitening strips have a peroxide solution attached to a thin strip of plastic that you fold over your teeth. These strips may produce more consistent results than gel kits because they more easily conform to the shape of your teeth.
Dentist Office Bleaching
In an in-office bleaching, or chairside bleaching, your dentist starts the procedure by applying a protective gel or a rubber shield to protect your gums. Then she will apply a bleaching agent to the teeth. The dentist may then use a laser or special light to enhance the action of the agent. This is the strongest, quickest and most effective bleaching technique you can get for your teeth. The whitening agent your dentist uses is too strong to be sold over-the-counter.
Diet
You can make substitutions in your diet that will instantly reduce tooth darkening. Avoid drinking red wine, black tea, coffee and espresso, and dark juices, such as cranberry juice. If you wish to substitute these products you can switch to white wine, cappuccino or lattes, green tea and grapefruit juice. These substitutions will reduce the rate at which your teeth darken between bleaching procedures.
