Do you have stained teeth that are making you feel a little insecure? Try one of these 5 ways to whiten your teeth at home to remove the stains and get your confidence back.
Whitening Toothpaste
The most affordable, but least effective of all the options, is whitening toothpaste. These pastes are designed to gently remove stains and polish the teeth. However, they only work on surface stains and can only whiten to about one shade lighter. If you are looking for something a little more powerful, prescription-strength tooth whitening pastes that your dentist provides can often change the shade of your teeth between three to eight shades.
White Strips
Whitening strips contain a gel-like material that contains peroxide to remove stains and lighten the teeth. They are quite effective at lifting stains but can eat away at the enamel if you get too carried away. People tend to prefer whitening strips over other options because results are often seen immediately and can last for a few months. But it’s important to remember, there are many different types of brands and strengths to choose from, so it’s always wise to speak to your dentist first before starting a whitening strip program.
Whitening Mouth Wash
Similar to your regular mouth wash that reduces plaque and freshens the breath, whitening rinses also contain hydrogen peroxide to whiten the teeth. However, few dentists recommend whitening rinse as the results can take a few weeks to appear and the legal amount of effective agent used is generally less than professional whitening kits.
Custom Trays
Tray whitening is a take-home system that is normally supervised by your dentist. These are often the most effective take-home options you can buy as you can tailor the program to your needs. They work by filling a tray with a whitening gel solution that is fitted over your teeth. The tray is worn for a couple of hours a day for a specific period of time to achieve the level of whitening desired.
Whitening Kits
There are also a number of whitening kits on the market that you can purchase. These often contain a whitening agent and accelerator light. Because a number of kits have been recently associated with dental scams, it’s important to ask your dentist which ones are approved before starting one. Your dentist may even offer a whitening kit that you can purchase and take home to speed up the in-office bleaching process.
Most surface stains can be removed by store-bought whitening products as mentioned above, but if the stains have penetrated the enamel, a professional whitening treatment is a better option. At Carlingwood Dental, we offer an advanced LED light system that works together with a customized whitening kit to give you the best results and the whitest smile. To learn more contact us today or book an appointment to try it yourself.
