There are so many different ways to whiten teeth and it may be difficult to decide how to whiten your teeth. I hope that Cosmetic Dentistry Advisor will be able to help you with the process.
1) Remove Surface Stains
Teeth may appear discolored due to tatar, plaque and other debris on the teeth. It is also common to get surface stains on teeth due to certain types of food e.g. tee, red wine and vegetables rich in xanthonoids and carotenoids. Tobacco is another common cause for stains on teeth. It is better to remove these stains rather than just bleaching them.
The first step for anyone who wants whiter teeth will therefore be to get the teeth cleaned thoroughly first. I would suggest that you see you dentist or oral hygienist for a professional scale and polish. It is also advisable to invest in a good quality electric toothbrush and toothpaste which will help to remove stains and also to keep the teeth nice and clean. Thorough brushing and flossing twice daily will go a long way in preventing your teeth from staining again.
2) Visit your Dentist
In order to prevent problems when bleaching your teeth, it is extremely important to see your dentist for an examination first. All cavities, decay and leaking crowns/ fillings should be addressed before embarking on a teeth whitening regime. You can get severe toothache it you get bleaching agent into cavities! Your dentist will be able to advise you on the best teeth whitening options and products, suited to your needs.
3) Desensitising and Protecting your Teeth
As it is very common to get tooth sensitivity during or after bleaching, it is wise to prepare your teeth first. This is especially important if you tend to struggle with tooth sensitivity. Cosmetic Dentistry Advisor suggests that you use GC Tooth Mousse for at least a week before you start whitening your teeth. Continue using it during and after bleaching as it will help to remineralise and protect your teeth. It will also help to limit tooth sensitivity due to the bleaching.
4) Choose your Whitening Method
You can get your teeth professionally bleached. This can be done in-office (which will give you the quickest result) or with a take-home bleaching kit. Although professional teeth whitening are your most expensive option, you should get the best results with minimal risk.
If professional teeth whitening are too expensive, it is possible to bleach your teeth with an over-the-counter product. You can pick from a wide variety of products including; bleaching kits, whitening strips, whitening pens, toothpastes and mouthwashes. Do not be tempted to use a bleaching agent with a very high Carbamide Peroxide content as it could harm your teeth and gums. Rather use a product with a low concentration e.g. 10% Carbamide Peroxide as it is safer and shouldn’t cause as much problems with tooth sensitivity as products with stronger concentrations.
There are a lot of people who prefer to use natural products to whiten their teeth, rather than using a bleaching agent. Natural teeth whitening can be done with coconut oil, baking soda, activated charcoal, strawberries, lemons etc. Please keep in mind that some of these products can be very abrasive or erosive and damage your teeth. It isn’t necessarily safe or better to use, just because it is natural!
5) Go ahead and Whiten your Teeth
Be realistic and do not expect your teeth to be snow-white after the first treatment. Keep in mind that very dark teeth may need more treatments over a longer period of time. If you experience any problems with the whitening process, stop using the whitening product and consult your dentist.
6) Maintain your new White Smile
It is important to maintain immaculate oral hygiene if you want to keep your teeth sparkling white. Try and limit things that are known to stain teeth e.g. drink cola (if you feel you must) through a straw (which will help to limit the contact between the cola and your teeth). Visit your dentist or oral hygienist regularly for professional tooth cleaning.
I would suggest that you use special whitening mouthwash like Listerine Healthy White Anticavity Mouthrinse which will help to keep your teeth healthy and white.
There are also great toothpastes on the market which is formulated to whiten teeth or to keep them white. Colgate Total Advanced Whitening Toothpaste is a great product. It has dual-silica technology that helps to remove stains. It also helps to kill germs for 12 hours after brushing and prevents tatar build-up. If your teeth are sensitive after the bleaching process, Sensodyne ProNamel Gentle Whitening will be a good choice as it helps to re-harden acid softened enamel, desensitize teeth and contains fluoride to strengthen the teeth and prevent cavities.
Chew sugar free gum. This will help to stimulate saliva flow. Saliva flow is your body’s own defence mechanism against bacterial attacks which produces acids that can demineralize the teeth. I can recommend Recaldent (CPP-ACP) sugar free gum with xylitol, as it also contains ingredients that will help to restore damaged, demineralized enamel and will help to keep your teeth healthy.