Dental Teeth Whitening Options

The old adage goes, "If you see someone without a smile give them one of yours." Wouldn't you want that smile to be as bright as possible? Bright, white teeth are considered to be one way to emphasize health and beauty in our culture.

The problem is teeth are easily discolored by smoking, colas, coffees, foods and simply by aging. Luckily, in recent years tooth whitening systems have gotten much more affordable and more convenient.

Tooth whitening is not for everyone. Teeth discolored yellow, brown or orange respond the best to cosmetic tooth whitening. Grey stains due to tetracycline or heredity are harder to whiten. Sensitive teeth, periodontal disease or worn enamel are situations where people may not be a candidate for dentist teeth whitening.

Whitening systems have either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient. Teeth lighten when the peroxide comes in contact with the surface of the tooth. Systems vary in how it is applied to your teeth and for how long. The best teeth bleaching system is one that is custom-made for you by a professional dentist.

There are other things you can try besides professional tooth whitening. Many over-the-counter products are offered for bleaching teeth. These include:

· Whitening strips

· Whitening gels

· Tray-based tooth whiteners

Many of these may be also obtained from a dentist as well.

Whitening strips

Whitening strips are very thin, almost invisible strips that are coated with a peroxide-based whitening gel. Most strips are applied twice daily for 30 minutes for two weeks. Initial results are seen in a few days and final results are sustained for roughly four months. Most people prefer to wear whitening strips in private, and you cannot eat or drink while wearing them.

Whitening gels

Whitening gels are peroxide-based, clear gels that are applied with a small brush directly to the surface of your teeth. The gel is typically applied twice a day for two weeks and has the same results as whitening strips.

Tray-based tooth whiteners

Tray-based tooth whitening systems are most effective when they are shaped to your individual mouth, most likely by a dental professional. However, there are products that are offered over-the-counter with trays as well. These trays work by filling a mouth guard-like tray with a gel whitening solution that contains a peroxide bleaching agent. The tray is then worn for a fairly long length of time (generally from a couple hours a day to overnight) every day for up to four weeks or longer. The length of time the tray is used is based upon the desired level of whitening.

http://www.familycedarrapidsdentist.com/ask-the-expert-questions.php
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/teeth-whitening

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