For many people who want to look more attractive, more confident, or even look younger, teeth whitening has become a very popular cosmetic procedure. Whitening is not recommended for people with cracked teeth or cavities in the area to be whitened. People suffering from gum disease or are pregnant or nursing are not advised to use whitening procedures. Natural teeth get the best results, while veneers, crowns and fillings don't whiten as well.
The undertone shade of teeth determines the degree of improvement. People with yellow undertones on their teeth have the highest degree of success. Brown undertones whiten with less success. Natural gray undertones are the least responsive to bleaching techniques.
If tea, coffee, cola or wine is the cause of stains and discoloration of your teeth, you may be an excellent candidate for whitening techniques. Other causes of discoloration have a less favorable result possibility.
Teeth whitening toothpaste purchased over-the-counter are the most popular. Results vary according to the concentration of the bleaching agent and the amount of time the whitener is in contact with the teeth. Due to the small amount of time people spend brushing their teeth, the visible change is very slow.
Whitening toothpaste works with the use of hydrogen peroxide or other whitening agents in small quantities in order to work gently. Crest Extra Whitening Toothpaste, Colgate Whitening Toothpaste and Rembrandt Whitening Toothpaste are a few available brands. Some people have reported improvement by using whitening toothpastes, but the results are minimal.
Over the counter mouth trays, whitening strips and paint on applications are available to use at home. These items are available nationwide at grocery, discount and drug stores. Typically a low-concentration bleaching gel is used with these techniques suggesting application for thirty to sixty minutes a day for one to two weeks.
Mouth trays, whitening strips and paint on applications are designed to be economical and easy to use at home. Those with simple surface stains find varied degrees of improvement. However, many have found the instructions difficult to follow. Whitening on front teeth is much easier than on back teeth.
Whitening Kiosks are currently available in malls. Claims of professional results at a fraction of dental office costs are the biggest draw. Most of the work is done by the client with guided staff instruction. Often the kiosk operating staff do not have the professional training required in a dentist office, so they are unqualified to determine the best whitening candidates. The kiosk procedures are legal, but some argue they may not be safe for particular clients.
Professional take home trays are available from the dentist office. The dentist will make a mold of your teeth, prepare a tray and send you home with whitening gel and instructions. Trays are worn for thirty to ninety minutes for up to two weeks, while dentists check for sensitivity during this time. Results sometimes last for years with this procedure.
In office, dentist-administered bleaching is the quickest, easiest and least painful method of teeth whitening. While many find dramatic improvement, this method is the most expensive.
