Over recent times, teeth whitening has become a great way for those of us who are not happy with our smiles to improve them and feel confident about ourselves. For this reason, more and more people are looking for some solid information about the various methods you can use to whiten your teeth. In this article I ll lay out the various methods and the pros and cons of using these methods.
Why Do Our Teeth Become Yellow?
Usually our teeth become discolored or stained for two or three reasons. The main reason being time. Over time the enamel, which is an outer coating that protects our teeth, becomes eroded and reveals the soft dentin below it. Another couple of reasons is to do with the food and drink that we consume and not forgetting the problems that smoking can bring. Tea, coffee and soft drinks that contain caffeine is the number contributor for teeth to be stained.
To whiten our teeth, we stain what s left of the enamel and basically that s what teeth whitening is all about!
Professional Teeth Whitening
Of course, the best way to achieve nice white teeth is by having your dentist do it professionally. Although dentists use several methods, in most cases, he will apply some sort of gel to your teeth and you can see a dramatic improvement in just a few visits. This method is quite effective however, it isn t affordable for everybody.
This is the costly end of whitening teeth. If you can afford the hundreds of dollars and the time that a professional in chair treatment will cost, then I would recommend that you opt for this method. Your dentist will take a mould of your teeth and bleach your teeth over the course of several weeks.
At Home DIY Teeth Whitening
One of the simplest and cheapest methods to whiten your teeth is through the use of a home whitening kit. Numerous home whitening systems are available for just a few bucks for shipping and handling. In many cases, these home whitening systems can produce results that are virtually as good as what you would attain from your dentist. These programs are the most popular way to attain a great white smile on a budget.
If you can t afford the hundreds of dollars then the next best option is to try one of the free sample give away kits that you find online. These are available to you for a few dollars shipping and handling fee and you can try them in the comfort of your own home to see if the kit works for you.
The best of these kits come with a pen like applicator in which you will find the teeth whitening gel. This gel is applied to the teeth and after a few minutes, the teeth are white. Not as permanent as the professional treatment, but as a cost effective way to get yourself some white teeth, a very good option.
The final way to whiten your teeth involves the use of special tooth pastes and mouth washes. These are readily available in most large grocery stores. These items are the least effective, however can whiten your teeth to some degree if they are used over a long period of time. They will not give you a dramatically whiter smile by using them on their own.