A beautiful smile can significantly affect how you feel about yourself.
If you don’t feel confident with your smile, it may impact all areas of your life. Dental whitening might be just the thing you need to bring back the glimmer of your teeth. Advanced Dental Group is here to answer all your questions about the procedure.
4 Factors That Affect the Color of Your Teeth
Brushing and flossing will keep your teeth white and healthy, but sometimes it’s not enough to keep your smile bright. If you feel your smile has lost its sparkle or looks yellower than usual, you’re probably interested in teeth whitening treatments.
But why do our teeth lose their whiteness? Here are some factors that affect the color of your teeth:
1. Tobacco Use
Nicotine and tar cause stubborn stains. Tar has a naturally dark color, while nicotine turns yellow when exposed to oxygen, resulting in yellow stains on the surface of your teeth.
2. Dental Trauma
If you were punched or hit in the mouth, your tooth may change color and darken in response to trauma. Teeth react to injury by laying more dentin, a darker-colored layer beneath the enamel.
3. Food and Drink
Tea, coffee, and red wine are all major staining agents. They all have intense color pigments, also known as chromogens, that cling to the surface of your teeth.
4. Medications
Tooth discoloration is one of the side effects of some high blood pressure medications, antihistamines, and antipsychotics. Children exposed to antibiotics (either in the mother’s womb or as babies) might experience teeth discoloration in adulthood. Head and neck radiation, as well as chemotherapy, also darken teeth.
Different Teeth Whitening Systems
You have many options to improve your smile. If you’re wondering what’s the best teeth whitener, ask your dentist; they will help you choose the one that best suits your needs.
Some teeth whitening techniques they might suggest include:
1. Whitening Toothpaste
All kinds of toothpaste can remove surface stains because they contain mild abrasives. They can only lighten your teeth’s color by one shade. Some dental whitening toothpaste has gentle polishing agents or chemical agents that help remove stains.
2. Over-The-Counter Whitening Gels and Strips
You can apply clear, peroxide-based whiteners directly to your teeth with a small brush. Be sure to read and follow the directions for use; instructions will vary depending on how strong the peroxide is. You’ll notice the results of the teeth whitening kit in a few days. The final results will last approximately four months.
Whitening strips are very thin and nearly invisible, coated with a peroxide-based whitening gel. Like whitening gels, you’ll notice the results that last for four months in a few days.
3. Tray-Based Tooth Whiteners
To use a tray-based tooth whitening system, you have to fill a guard-like container with a whitening solution containing a peroxide bleaching agent. Most kits have to be used for four weeks or more, and you can buy them over-the-counter or from your dentist. You’ll need to wear them for a few hours, usually during the day or night.
4. Whitening Rinses
Whitening rinses are one of the most recent dental whitening products. You can use them to freshen your breath and reduce dental plaque and gum disease. Some rinses contain hydrogen peroxide, which whitens teeth.
Gargle the whitening rinse for 60 seconds before brushing your teeth. Experts say rinses are not as effective as over-the-counter products for dental whitening treatment since they’re only in contact with your teeth for a short time.
5. In-Office Teeth Whitening Service
Your dentist can make your teeth whiter faster by bleaching them. They use a bleaching solution stronger than the dental whitening kits you use at home. They intensify the bleaching process with heat, light, or both. Professional teeth whitening delivers results in a few visits to the dentist.
Dental Whitening Treatment Safety Tips
1. Follow directions for use.
Do not leave gels and strips on your teeth longer than recommended; this can lead to sore gums and other problems.
2. Don’t overdo it.
A once-a-month session should suffice if you follow the product’s instructions and achieve a satisfactory result. Once your teeth are in a shade you love, you will need to do two sessions or less every year.
3. Protect sensitive teeth.
Your teeth can become a little more sensitive after a dental whitening procedure. However, this is very rare. If your gums and teeth are in good health, this might not be a problem. Talk to your dentist if it concerns you.
3 Natural Ways to Whiten Teeth
Many people are concerned that most teeth whitening techniques involve chemicals that bleach your teeth. If you’re not on board with the idea, here are some natural and safe ways to whiten teeth:
1. Baking Soda
Baking soda has natural teeth whitening properties, making it a popular component of commercial toothpaste. It is a mild abrasive that can remove surface stains from teeth.
While this is not an overnight solution, you will notice changes in your teeth’s appearance. Although science has yet to prove that baking soda can whiten teeth, several studies show that toothpaste containing baking soda whitens teeth significantly.
2. Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is an Indian folk remedy that improves oral health, removes toxins from the body, and improves oral hygiene. Any oil will work, but Indians traditionally use sunflower oil to rinse their mouth and remove bacteria that can build up and yellow your teeth. Coconut oil is a favorite alternative because of its pleasant taste and numerous health benefits.
3. Fruits and Vegetables
A diet high in fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods benefit your body and teeth.
Even though they can’t replace brushing your teeth daily, eating crunchy and raw fruits and veggies can help remove plaque while you chew.
Contact Advanced Dental Group
If you’re looking into professional teeth whitening or at-home whitening kits, talk to a licensed dental professional.
Advanced Dental Group connects individuals looking for seasoned dentists in Clearwater, FL. Call us, and find out if you are a candidate for whitening treatments today.
