When it comes to your smile, your dental health, straightness, and color of your teeth are all equally important. Pigments in food and drinks, smoking, some medications, mouth injuries, and age are all factors that can darken teeth. Daily brushing and regular cleanings at your dentist’s office might be enough to maintain a fair appearance of your teeth. However, if you want to make your smile look brighter, there are a variety of products and procedures for teeth whitening.
First of all, you should speak with your dentist. He or she can tell you what procedures would best fit your enamel type and how to properly use them to improve your natural teeth color. Some procedures include porcelain veneers and dental bonding.
Teeth whitening methods
Dentistry experts, online-shops, and local stores offer a lot of opportunities, but you should know that none of them can change the color completely. They can only lighten the shade. Results depend on many details including your eating habits and how dark your teeth are.
There are four ways to brighten your smile:
- Chairside bleaching. This procedure is available in office as a part of aesthetic dentistry and usually takes only one visit which lasts about an hour. Gums are protected with a special gel or rubber shield. After that a teeth whitening agent is generously applied to the enamel surface. Sometimes a special light and lasers are used to enhance the effect. The prices are a bit higher than other methods, but a smile whitened this way stays the same for one to three years.
- At-home bleaching. This comes in different forms, such as strips and gels. These products are usually peroxide-based and should be used multiple times to achieve the desired level of brightening. There may be potential side effects such as temporary increased tooth sensitivity. Search for American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance when buying, that proves tested efficiency and harmlessness. Ask your dentist’s opinion if you have any concerns.
- Specialized toothpastes. This is a rather handy way to maintain your shining smile on a regular basis. All specialized types contain mild abrasives to remove surface stains. And only those with chemical or polishing agents in composition “whiten” according to ADA Seal of Acceptance system. It is really easy to buy and use such toothpaste, but do not expect too much. They are more about proper cleaning, not bleaching.
- If your teeth are not your ideal state of whiteness, this does not mean you are in need of dentistry consultation. This is a cosmetic service to improve the appearance of your teeth-not a necessary dental treatment linked to overall quality of health. It is completely up to you how bright you would like your teeth to be. However, if you lack confidence with your smile, do not hesitate to seek professional help at our office in Jacksonville.