You Too, Can Have White Teeth
White teeth exude good health, effectively saying to the world, “I care about my appearance and I take care of my body”. White teeth are just as much of an appearance enhancement as yellow teeth are as a deterrent to looking good! If your teeth are less-than-white, you, too can have white teeth by following our tried-and-true tooth whitening tips.
Good Oral Health – the Cornerstone of White Teeth
White teeth are healthy teeth; if your teeth, mouth and gums aren’t in good shape, your teeth are unlikely to look their pearly best. Achieving and maintaining a beautiful, bright white smile involves practices good oral health techniques, the most important of which is daily brushing and flossing (twice daily at minimum; three times each day is recommended by most dentists).
Visiting your dentist for a professional cleaning and general overall checkup is also recommended every six months.
Whitening – Homemade Remedies for White Teeth
Most of the whitening products on the market contain hydrogen peroxide, which penetrates the tooth enamel and works to remove stains on the teeth’s dentin. (Yes, the same hydrogen peroxide you keep on hand for cuts and scrapes). You can use hydrogen peroxide “straight” from the bottle as pre-brush rinse to help remove unsightly stains and whiten your teeth inexpensively. Additionally, you can apply hydrogen peroxide on the tip of a sterile swab directly to the teeth.
Some dentists recommend diluting the hydrogen peroxide with water; other dentists say this is an unnecessary step that weakens the hydrogen peroxide too much to be effective. Hydrogen peroxide used as a homemade remedy for teeth whitening is of the 3% concentration.
Whitening Kits and More
There are many products that you can buy over the counter without visiting the dentist. Most of them, as mentioned earlier, rely on hydrogen peroxide in various concentrations to remove ugly stains and unsightly discoloration. Let’s look at the most common whitening products on the market:
- Whitening kits. Whitening kits usually feature a whitening solution and two mouth pieces (both upper and lower). The mouth piece fits over the teeth and holds the solution in place for a particular amount of time (varies according to brand). The mouth piece is customizable; in most kits, you will simply dip each section into hot water, then place in your mouth so that it makes a mold of your teeth.
- Whitening strips. Thin strips that you place over your teeth that contain whitening agents are very popular. These strips are usually invisible, and some are formulated to wear during sleep.
- Whitening toothpastes. Nearly all of the popular brands of toothpaste now have at least one formulation for whitening, and many combine the power of hydrogen peroxide with old-fashioned baking soda. You can also make your own whitening toothpaste by blending baking soda and hydrogen peroxide – although it’s not tasty like many of the “flavored” whiteners out there like vanilla and cinnamon.
- Whitening rinse. Scope, Listerine, and other companies have begun to make whitening rinses that are used before brushing to loosen up the tartar and plaque on the teeth to whiten your teeth faster (and kill more germs).
- Whitening gums. Chewing gum (at least whitening gum) is no longer bad for your teeth. There are several good whitening gums on the market that taste great and make your smile look brighter.
Professional Whitening
There are tons of whitening options when it comes to professional whitening, but keep in mind that they are very expensive for the most part. From professional bleaching using prescription strength hydrogen peroxide to laser whitening techniques like the ever-popular “Zoom” whitening method, getting your teeth their brightest at the dentist’s office is the easiest and fastest possibility.
