The Internet is full of different articles about teeth bleaching where people advise you to get an ultra white smile with the help of ash from birch logs, river sand or even pumice. PinkyCloud knows 9 really effective methods for teeth whitening.
What do Scarlett Johansson, Beyonce, and George Clooney have in common? Besides money and worldwide fame they all have a beautiful white smile. If you think that such a smile can be just a dream you’re mistaken. If you’re afraid of dentists as much as “Saw VI” or you lack time and money, teeth bleaching at home is what the doctor ordered.
Don’t forget to visit your doctor before the beginning of the experiment. He or she doesn’t only show you the right way to do it, but will also tell you about all the possible side effects.
Professional Methods
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Teeth Whitening Trays
Trays are similar to mouth guards which boxers use and are usually made of hypoallergenic plastic material. You can order them at your dentist and it will be based on your dental cast model or simply buy one at the pharmacy. The later variant is less effective, because the tray from the pharmacy won’t fit your teeth as well, but they still do the trick. To whiten your teeth fill the tray with special gel containing hydrogen peroxide or carbon peroxide. You can wear such a tray for an hour, for several hours or for the whole night depending on your dental sensitivity. In any case you’ll get the necessary results in only a month or even a bit later if you smoke. But it’ll be a long lasting effect. The main disadvantages of this method are dental enamel attrition, inflamed gums, dental hypersensitivity to hot or cold. To avoid such unpleasantries choose the gel with hydrogen peroxide concentration of no more than 3%.
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Teeth Whitening Strips
These are special strips for teeth bleaching which are stuck to your teeth. The method isn’t very comfortable, but much easier than the previous one. The only drawback is that spaces between the teeth whiten more than your teeth themselves.
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Teeth Whitening Gels
The gel can be applied with the help of your tooth brush. It solidifies and stays on your teeth until your saliva dissolves it. To get the necessary result you need two weeks or a bit more.
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Teeth Whitening Gel Pens
Whitening gel in a pen looks like a lipstick. It can be applied with the special brush and should be removed in 5 minutes. Such a pen can help you to get rid of cigarette, coffee or wine traces on your teeth. But if there’s a more stable type of pigmentation, it will be useless.
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Whitening Toothpastes
According to the advertisements this is the easiest and most available method of getting a white smile. But don’t take the first whitening toothpaste which has caught your eye. The most frequent type is toothpastes with chalk or soda. In other word it includes in its composition abrasives which don’t bleach your teeth, but remove dental deposit. That’s why their frequent use can lead to tooth hypersensitivity. The second type is professional toothpastes are based on chemical agents. They softly break down the protein structure of plaque and do no harm to the dental enamel. Don’t use such toothpastes for more than a month. Change them with usual toothpastes.
Home Remedies for Teeth Whitening
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Wood Tar
Wood tar has potassium hydroxide agents which help to solve the problem with yellow teeth. You can use wood tar itself or mix it up with your toothpaste. Of course, there are some side effects: dental enamel attrition, dental hypersensitivity and bleeding gum.
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Apples
Apples are very good in breaking down dental deposit.
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Strawberries
Summer is coming and it means that you can make up home remedies with the help of natural foodstuff. You can rub your teeth with strawberries or rinse your mouth with its juice or make some purée and brush your teeth with it. These methods can make your teeth slightly white due to the plant acid which strawberries contain. And it doesn’t do you or your teeth any harm.
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Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
Don’t go crazy with soda or hydrogen peroxide. Otherwise it will lead to dental enamel attrition and problems with your gingival mucosa. Don’t rinse your mouth with soda more than once a week. Be careful with the hydrogen peroxide usage as well. Don’t let it go into your stomach. To avoid it rub your teeth with a cotton ball wetted in the hydrogen peroxide liquid.
You can combine and change different remedies from time to time in order to get the best result. Of course, it’s necessary to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth in the usual way. Don’t use ash, sand, activated carbon or something like that for teeth whitening. They just get stuck between your teeth and damage the dental enamel.
Drink beverages with coloring pigments through a straw.
Home remedies can be very helpful if your teeth pigmentation isn’t strong. Stains caused by taking antibiotic “tetracycline” or by the dental disease “fluorosis” can be removed only by a professional dentist. Home remedies are very useful to prolong the effect of in-office whitening.
Dentists advise people who have cavities, parodontosis and periodontitis not to bleach their teeth. You should cure your teeth first. People with braces or crowns of front teeth, pregnant women or children under 16 should refrain from teeth whitening as well.
By the way, white teeth are not an indicator of good health. Calcium which is necessary for healthy teeth gives them yellow pigment. But if you don’t want your teeth to become yellower, drink beverages with coloring pigments (tea, coffee, lemonade or juice) through a straw and then brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth. And don’t forget to eat apples. They are very good in breaking down the yellow dental plaque.
