Four Ways Of Making Your Teeth Whiter
Wherever you are, the possession of a bright white smile makes you feel much better. Having crooked teeth that don’t gleam, even though they are often less healthy than straight ones, isn’t so important since the crookedness can be a part of the person’s distinctive character.
If you display imperfect or decaying teeth, you are likely to be less socially acceptable than someone with excellent dentition. Practising good oral hygiene will help to keep teeth white but if you want a better shade of white there are other ways than just brushing.
Brushing, flossing and rinsing with a mouthwash will certainly keep your mouth healthy but they do not always keep that gleaming smile.
Using a peroxide based solution to whiten teeth is popular with patients and dentists alike. All the various forms of this treatment can be categorized as either treatment at home or treatment at the dentist’s surgery. All these methods will be effective but each has its pros and cons. Always consult your dentist or call your dental insurance plan provider if you are in any way unsure about dental treatments.
There are several procedures for helping you to keep the perfect smile.
- Teeth whitening strips
- Tray-based teeth whitening solutions
- Paint-on teeth whitening
- Professional teeth whitening treatment
Teeth whitening strips are the simplest form of improving your dental looks. According to Proctor and Gamble wearing whitening strips coated with 6% hydrogen peroxide for two weeks will increase the whiteness of the teeth by a factor of 10%.
A good thing about whitening strips is that you can wear them all day but without other people being able to see them. The disadvantage is whitening strips lie across the front of the teeth and do not always reach between the teeth where some stains occur.
Most dentists prefer and employ the better choice of the tray-based whitening solution procedure. Such is the design of the tray that the upper teeth are covered by one part and the lower teeth by the other part. The tray contains a bleaching gel which may remain active for several hours.
Using a tray instead of white strips has the advantage of ensuring that the gel reaches areas that are not reached by whitening strips. The disadvantage is the tray must stay in the mouth for a given amount of time. Different times will be required according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Paint-on tooth whitening is another way of applying a peroxide solution onto the teeth. A brush is used to apply the whitener to the teeth; after this the solution forms a thin film. The length of time the solution remains on the tooth varies between manufacturers. This length varies according to the manufacturer and may be anything from one hour to over-night. The whitening solution is removed at the end of the approved time using a toothbrush.
Paint-on whitening has the advantage of not involving trays and of the solution reaching all parts of the tooth. Unfortunately this will not be successful if applied to any existing dental work.
It is sensible to consult your dentist before embarking upon any kind of self-applied treatment. Incorrect use of any solution may affect existing dental work including fillings and veneers. A huge amount of extra and expensive treatment may be incurred if the manufacturer’s instructions for the correct usage of the solutions are ignored.
Professional teeth whitening treatments may be considered better by some people. In fact at the end of the day there is no difference between the results achieved by professional treatment and by self-administered treatment. Time is the vital consideration. A dentist will usually be able to complete the treatment in one session; home treatment may take up to two weeks.
The disadvantage to using a dentist is of course cost. If you do not have a comprehensive dental insurance policy which covers these sorts of treatments, the cost will be substantially more than buying over the counter products. Self-administered treatment may turn out to be more expensive than using dental insurance. Dentist-administered treatment has the advantage of being completed in the minimum amount of time. It usually takes only an hour to complete a whitening session. You can’t inspect your own mouth but the dentist can do this at the same time, a considerable advantage.
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