Are you dreaming of the freedom and confidence of having a beautiful smile with dazzling white teeth? It’s easier than ever to whiten your teeth but in these tough economic times the price of each treatment can be just as important. We’ll help guide you through the decisions you have to make so that you enjoy whiter teeth while looking after your health and your bank balance!
What Is Chemical Teeth Whitening?
The marketplace is saturated with firms offering their own whitening solution. Whichever route you choose, none of these methods will alter the shape or location of your teeth and none are substitutes for proper dental hygiene. You should be brushing twice a day for at least two minutes with an electric tooth brush. Flossing and mouth wash are essential to keeping your teeth clean, as are bi-annual visits to your dentist. If you have sought out teeth whitening because of the ‘Hollywood smiles’ that celebrities have, you may be disappointed. Most ‘perfect’ teeth are actually veneers over their real teeth, so don’t expect too much from whitening!
Where Do I Start?
Before even thinking about investing in teeth whitening, see what improvement you could make to your existing tooth-care routine. If you smoke or drink coffee or wine, no whitening procedure will last indefinitely. The latest high-end toothbrushes will gradually whiten your smile and if you team them with whitening toothpastes, floss and mouthwash, you can lighten your teeth by one or two shades over a period of several months. If you are already cleaning your teeth in this way, your first step should be to find a reputable local dentist and get a proper consultation.
What About Home Whitening Kits?
These kits contain whitening gel, mouth trays and toothpaste, and they work in the same way as the whitening procedures offered by many dentists. They miss out a crucial stage though, the check up. By going to a certified dentist, you are finding out what caused the discoloration of your teeth and whether you are a candidate for whitening. A kit won’t know what caused your teeth to discolor or whether you stand to benefit from whitening. Always consult a dentist to find the best solution for your needs.
Why Not Compromise?
The most common form of chemical whitening offered by dentists involves special mouth trays being molded to your teeth. This is the most effective route and the trays are yours to take home and use indefinitely. They get better results than most home kits as they hold the gel more directly to your teeth. As a compromise, you may want to look for a dentist who offers take-home whitening packages. This service offers standard, non-custom trays and is vastly cheaper. They still offer a way to increase the brightness of your teeth by over 6 shades if you use them regularly.
What Should I Look For?
You should only ever consider visiting a certified dentist for a whitening procedure. A worst-case scenario would be an unqualified dentist using as unsafe chemical to whiten your teeth. There have been cases where patient’s have had their tooth enamel damaged by unscrupulous dentists. It’s never worth risking your health for whiter teeth, so stay safe!