Top Three Teeth Whitening Approaches
Posted on: 4 March 2015
Just as white teeth are attractive and viewed as a sign of good health, stained and discolored teeth are considered ugly and are perceived as a sign of poor health. If your teeth have lost their white luster due to age or to medical and dietary causes, there are a number of measures you can take to whiten your smile again and feel better about letting other people see your teeth. There are three particularly effective teeth whitening approaches each with its own benefits.
1. Natural choices: For centuries people have used home remedies for whitening their teeth. Some are perfectly safe while others can cause damage to your teeth if used in excess.
- Apple cider vinegar – Used as a rinse, apple cider vinegar removes tough stains caused by coffee and nicotine. A month of use can produce a significant improvement. However, the acid in the vinegar can also erode your tooth enamel if it remains on your teeth for too long.
- Baking soda – Combine baking soda with enough hydrogen peroxide to create a paste that will stick to your teeth. Either apply it to your teeth or use as toothpaste. This can also cause enamel erosion if over used.
- Coconut oil – Either put a few drops on your toothbrush and brush your teeth with it, or rub some on your gums after brushing. You can also swish one tsp of it in your mouth for about 20 minutes and spit.
- Fruits and veggies – Crunchy foods like celery and apples work to naturally scrape away stains. There is almost no risk involved with eating foods with the goal of whitening your teeth except that excessive exposure to citrus juice can also erode enamel.
2. Home whitening kits: After consulting with your dentist regarding how to use a home whitening kit, you fill special trays molded to fit around your top and bottom bites and hold them in your mouth for the prescribed amount of time. After doing this daily for two to three weeks, your teeth can be two shades whiter.
3. Zoom Whitening: During a single visit to the dentist, your teeth will be coated with a strong whitening chemical, and then a special lamp is shined on your teeth to accelerate the whitening process. No damage is caused to the teeth enamel because the chemical works by penetrating beneath the tooth surface and bleaching the stains away. The results are immediate.
Whichever teeth whitening method you choose, know that if you continue to smoke and eat foods that cause stains, your teeth may eventually become discolored again. Talk to experts like Clendenon Kirby DDS for more information.
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