But in tough economic times, and with the growing popularity of “organic” related foods, clothes and lifestyles, natural teeth whitening may be making another breakthrough.

Understanding the basics of how your teeth become discolored, may illuminate how things have the reverse effect. Coffee, tea, dark drinks and food, will darken your teeth. Any prolonged exposure to a dark chemical will understandably stain something. Well, lemon juice, baking soda, and wood ash will lighten your teeth just the same.

It’s not just the color of the chemicals or ingredients that help reverse the negative affects of stains. It is also the chemicals themselves. Lemon juice, however, has it’s benefits and it’s problems as well. Lemon juice contains a high level of citric acid which eats at the enamel on your teeth. This is good in the sense that it removes stains fairly quickly, by eating away at the top layers of the tooth, but it’s bad in the sense that it eats away at the top layers of the tooth. You need calcium on your teeth in order to have healthy ones, and lemon juice is no good for calcium based enamels.

Some individuals use strawberries, mashed into a paste, and then brushed with them. This has a very similar effect on your teeth to the lemon juice method. However, this strawberry toothpaste version tastes much better. Crunchy vegetables that don’t contain a lot of nasty sugars and staining colors can help to brush away stains on the outer surface of your teeth. Plus, eating crunchy vegetables is good for your diet as well. So this method is a win-win.

Simple baking soda has been in existence for a very long time and can effectively clean and polish your teeth if you brush with it. Many toothpastes contain high amounts of baking soda, but some people like to just use baking soda as their primary teeth cleaning experience. Baking soda also helps to eliminate bacteria that can cause damage to your teeth. The only problem with baking soda is that it can make your gums sensitive if you brush to roughly on them. So when brushing around the gum area, make sure you do so in a gentle fashion.

Most over the counter and professional methods of teeth whitening contain a lot of peroxide. You don’t have to buy those expensive products to use peroxide though. You can purchase it in liquid form, and just rinse your mouth with it to have a similar effect on your teeth. Peroxide sold in stores will not be as concentrated as the peroxide in professional teeth whiteners, so it will take longer to have the same effect.

The most popular method of teeth whitening treatment is to consult your dentist and get a teeth whitening strip or tray kit. The strip method involves placing a strip of gel covered tape on your top and bottom teeth, for thirty minutes twice a day, until you have the desired results. The tray method contains a similar peroxide gel that you wear against your teeth throughout the night. However, the tray method seems to have more side-effects than the strip method because it is in contact with your teeth and mouth for a much longer period of time, and peroxide can cause problems of gum sensitivity, etc. with prolonged exposure.

Another faster method is the laser teeth whitening treatment. This procedure only takes about an hour, but it costs far more than other methods (upwards of a few thousand). When you get a laser treatment, your teeth are first cleaned to remove any junk that might be in the way of the bleaching, and then a layer of peroxide gel is applied to your teeth. The laser activates the gel and begins the bleaching process.

Some people use more organic methods to their teeth cleaning. There is the lemon juice or strawberry paste methods, which utilize the citric acid in the juice to eat away at the enamel on your teeth. This method is effective, but it is destroying the hard calcium surface of the teeth that keeps them strong.

Using baking soda to keep teeth healthy and white is a popular method that has existed for a long time. Baking soda is commonly in toothpastes as well. It helps kill bacteria and microbes that destroy your teeth and cause discoloration. Try even using a tongue scraper to rid of bacteria that builds up in the mouth.

To keep your teeth white, you may have cut down on the amount of coffee, tea, or red wine you drink. These staining liquids are notorious for discoloring teeth, but their negative effects can be avoided with the use of a straw.

Most importantly, brush your teeth. Brushing your teeth will help keep them white, clean, and healthy.

Are your teeth stained from coffee or tea? Try using a straw instead of drinking straight from the cup. This may help eliminate the creation of stains on the front portion of your teeth. Just skipping the contact from staining liquids to your front teeth will do wonders in stain prevention.

Brush your teeth often. This isn’t just for the color of your teeth, but for the health of them as well. Keep your teeth healthy and clean by brushing right after you drink any staining liquids like coffee, red wine, and tea. Brush after eating dark foods as well. Just rinsing your mouth with water will not effectively remove the food that is stuck on the outer layers of your teeth.

In general it’s a good idea to get into the habit of brushing your teeth twice a day anyhow. Your dentist has told you this hundreds of times, but few people can keep up such a routine, despite how simple it sounds. Brush your teeth twice a day and not only will they be whiter, but they’ll last longer.

Using baking soda or baking soda toothpastes are the best for healthy and clean teeth. Baking soda helps eliminate bacteria and helps whiten too. This method of teeth cleaning has been around for a long time, and has proven to be effective, but not all toothpastes contain baking soda. The only problem with baking soda is that it can make your gums a bit sensitive, so it’s best not to brush your gums with too much force when using baking soda.

You may want to use over-the-counter teeth whitening treatments as well to help keep your teeth sparkling. You can also go to the dentist to have him or her get you a professional teeth whitening kit. These kits are generally either a strip method or a tray method. The strips are worn twice a day for thirty minutes, and contain a moderate level of peroxide. The trays contain a higher level of peroxide, but are worn while you sleep. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but the one that is most comfortable for you is the best option to go with.

If you are in a time crunch and just need to have something done about your stained teeth, an expensive laser teeth whitening session may be for you. This procedure only takes about an hour to do before you have whiter teeth. Consult your dentist about an available laser treatment.

Those who are allergic to teeth whitening chemicals such as peroxide should not consider using such products either. Any women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, as well as lactating women, should avoid bleaching procedures as well. Crowns, bridges, and veneers don’t work well with whitening. Have your teeth whitened before you get any caps or teeth filled.

Teeth whitening products often make sensitive gums even more sensitive, so beware of teeth whiteners if you have problems with this. If you have any type of gum disease, cavities, or worn enamel, you should also avoid teeth whitening procedures.

Other than these risks and warnings, teeth whitening is still a safe option for those who qualify.

There are a few different methods to teeth whitening. You can buy over-the-counter teeth whitening strips that you wear twice a day for 30 minutes. These have a much lower amount of peroxide and thus take much longer for results than their professional counterparts. The professional strips are available through a dentist and are a little more expensive. The dentist can also offer a fitted tray that you wear at night for a few weeks.

This tray contains a gel with peroxide, and covers all your teeth, unlike the strip which usually only covers the first 8 teeth. There are some problems found in using the tray however. Because of the prolonged contact with your teeth (all night long) your gums can develop a higher sensitivity which may cause serious discomfort in the mouth.

The last recommendation is the laser teeth whitening treatment. This procedure is far more expensive than the others, but has more immediate effects, and only takes an hour to perform. The laser teeth whitening procedure begins with a teeth cleaning, followed by the application of a peroxide gel, much like the gel found in the trays and strips.

This gel is light activated though, and after your teeth are coated, they are put under a laser until the procedure is complete.

If you would like to consider one of these treatment options, consult your dentist and see which one is right for you.

Plastic surgery can cost thousands. Breast augmentations, liposuction, face-lifts, etc. can all run upwards of tens of thousands for a well known and respected surgeon to perform the task. Dental surgery and teeth whitening is slightly less expensive, but for a fast procedure it can still damage your fiscal heart.

Laser teeth whitening is the most expensive procedure of the three primary ways to brighten your smile. There is also a professional, dentist-prescribed method of either strips or trays which cost far less, but take weeks longer to get the same results. And lastly, there are the at-home or over-the-counter methods which can cost virtually nothing compared to the thousands spent on laser treatments.

The laser procedure usually takes only an hour to complete. They begin by cleaning your teeth thoroughly, ridding of any plaque or gunk along the gums or on the enamel. Then they apply a peroxide gel, much like the gel used in the tray or strip methods, along the teeth. This gel is placed under an intense light, or laser, and is activated. Then you wait.

After an hour your teeth will be shades whiter, and your wallet will be thousands emptier. If you can afford it, and want immediate results, this may be the method for you. But if you can’t and don’t, then perhaps you should look into the other methods. The professional trays and strips both contain a level of peroxide which you leave on your teeth for a certain amount of time each day. The strips are worn for thirty minutes twice a day, and the tray is used during the night. Either of these methods are very effective, but they can take from a couple weeks to a month for results.

There are also over-the-counter methods of trays and strips which cost much less, and have a slightly smaller amount of peroxide in them, therefore taking a bit longer for good results. But these methods do work well, especially if money is a factor.

Lastly, there is the method of using toothpaste that contains whitening ingredients. This may take longer, but at least it’s forcing you to brush your teeth, right?

The at home versions are based off of professional options that your dentist can prescribe for you. But there are also quicker and more expensive methods that can be done right there in your dentist’s office.

Ever heard of laser eye surgery? How about laser face-lifts? Well, there’s also a thing called laser teeth whitening. First they clean the teeth thoroughly, removing most plaque and junk along the gum lines and on the enamel. The teeth are coated in a similar substance used in teeth whitening strips that contain a peroxide gel. The gel is shot with a laser which activates the chemicals and the bleaching procedure really gets underway. The whole ordeal can last up to an hour, but it is very effective in removing stains and brightening up your smile. Occasionally, if you have a serious case of discolored teeth, the procedure will have to be repeated.

If you have sensitive teeth or gums, the laser teeth whitening is still an option for you. Many people complain of complications or extreme gum sensitivity when using the peroxide overnight trays or even the strips, but the laser technique is usually only a one hour session, so the amount of time actually in contact with the chemical peroxide is much less.

The cost involved in a laser in-office teeth whitening procedure is usually high. It can run around a few thousand dollars for the one visit. But the results are consistently positive, quick, and economical in the long run.

The other methods which take more time, yet cost much less are the professional tray or strip treatments. The strips are used twice a day for thirty minutes each session for around 4 weeks. These strips usually don’t cover all of the teeth, but they are very effective and you only have to use them for an hour each day.

Alternatively, there are trays which have a higher dose of peroxide and are used throughout the night while you sleep, for around two weeks. This procedure involved keeping the chemicals in your mouth for a much longer period of time, which many patients complain about. It has the most side-effects of the three methods, and is known to cause gum irritation or sensitivity among other problems.

That’s the price you pay for the casual enjoyment of coffee and other stain-related beverages. Well, there’s two ways to combat those social-success killing drinks. Teeth whitening trays and strips. Comparing the two options can be tricky. Here are a few facts to know about your average teeth whitening products (we’re talking about those prescribed by dentists and not the home whitening systems).

Professional teeth whitening systems will give you the best results in the shortest amount of time. The trays are filled with a peroxide paste which you place on your teeth while you sleep. The peroxide substance is usually about 16 to 20 per cent of the total gel that does it’s magic. The strips however, have less peroxide, at about 14 per cent, and are worn twice a day for around 30 minutes a session. The amount of time the trays are in contact with your teeth is far greater than that of the strips, which would lead one to believe that the strips would be less effective.

But this is not the case. The strips have actually shown to be more effective in recent studies, and the strips have been proven to result in fewer side-effects. The trays are becoming synonymous with sensitive gums, while the strips have few problems associated with their use. Keeping something on your teeth all night long means you’ll be keeping chemicals in your mouth all night long as well, which is seemingly dangerous. The amount of whitening that actually occurs with the trays is not any better than the strips, although the trays only have to be used for two weeks, while the strips are used for three or more.

One concern some people may have is that the strips don’t cover as many teeth as the trays. This is a valid concern in deciding between the two options. If you have a wider mouth and the strips aren’t reaching all of your shown teeth, then you may want to consider using the trays which cover almost all your teeth.

The final, and most important concern when deciding the method of teeth whitening, is comfort. The option that is more comfortable for you may weigh heavier in the decision on which product to use.

If you’ve decided against an expensive bleaching service, or don’t want to go with the dentist’s product, you can consider either an at home toothpaste with whitening ingredients, or at home whitening strips or trays.

The at home strips and trays are available at pharmacies, drug stores, and discount stores at reasonable prices, especially compared to the professional services and products. The bleaching gels usually contain a milder, but still effective, version of the carbamide peroxide used in the professional versions. This chemical helps to remove stains and bleach teeth gradually one whiter shade at a time. The at home kits do not seem to work well on porcelain crowns however.

There are concerns with using these products though, that you should keep in mind for your own safety. Occasionally patients complain about gum irritation and sensitivity which is caused by overexposure to the chemicals in the gels. Also associated is erosion of the tooth enamel. This is why most dentists do not recommend over the counter products, and will try to push the prescription varieties instead. But many people find the store-bought versions to be very effective and less costly, which is of importance to almost everyone.

To use the home-bleaching kits, such as the teeth whitening strips, you’ll need to wear them for about 30 minutes, twice a day, for up to 4 weeks. This depends on how bad your teeth are to begin with , and what level of whiteness you are looking to achieve. The trays are to be used overnight, each night, for about 2 to 3 weeks. There are other problems associated with the trays, and generally most people prefer the strip method.

If these products don’t seem to do the trick, you may have to consider seeing a dentist and getting the professional service. There are also quick (and fairly expensive) bleaching procedures, such as laser bleaching which you can ask your dentist about. Unfortunately these are never covered by insurance as they are simply cosmetic and aesthetic issues.

We’ve all heard it from our dentists before, but here’s a few tips that might have slipped your mind when caring for your pearly (or not so pearly) whites.

What you eat affects your teeth. You may have noticed that coffee, tea, and other dark liquids may discolor the surface of your teeth. But you need to be aware that what you eat can also affect the structure and roots of your teeth too. Sugars and carbs taste good, but they can do damage if you let them have too much fun with your mouth. Good ol’ vitamin C is known to help keep teeth strong and fight against cavities, etc.

Just because your teeth are white, may not mean they are healthy. A white tooth does you know good if it ends up falling out or needing to be removed. And make sure you are seeing your dentist regularly. It’s recommended to go to a dentist at least once a year for a teeth cleaning routine and a basic checkup. But don’t go into a dentist’s office and embarrassing yourself by not knowing how to properly brush your teeth.

Even if your brush strokes aren’t great, and your form is all wrong, if you do it regularly, you’ll be on the right track. Floss every day if you are able to. It may seem a bit over the top, but flossing is incredibly important in maintaining healthy teeth. We can only hit two of the four sides of teeth when brushing. There are no brushing techniques that effectively get to the places in your mouth where flossing is able to.

Something most people don’t do is use a tongue scraper. This can not only help eliminate bacteria and gunk that festers in your mouth, it can also improve your breath. For anyone with halitosis, tongue scraping is a necessity.

Lastly, use an anti-microbial like baking soda to get rid of the junk that eats away at your teeth or causes tooth decay. Baking soda is proven to still be one of the best methods of getting rid of those nasty microbes that cause so much harm. There are many pastes available that contain baking soda, but nothing is quite like the real stuff.

The difference between the two methods are both the chemical quantity of peroxide involved, the type of peroxide used, and the amount of time the product is supposed to be in contact with the teeth. The strips contain about a 14% hydrogen peroxide gel product, while the trays have about 16 to 20 percent carbamide peroxide in its gel substance. The strips are to be worn for a period of a half an hour twice a day for around three weeks, while the trays are to be worn overnight, and for only two weeks.

Side effects are also of concern when testing the two products. Generally the strips had less side effects or usage problems than the trays. Because the trays are worn for a much longer period of time (overnight) there are more inherent problems associated with them, such as keeping them secure in the mouth, choking hazards, and overexposure to the product. The other important factor in the test was the comfort and personal choice by the participants in the test. Generally, the strips were far more comfortable to wear than the overnight option. The trays were shown to cause gum sensitivity too. This may be due to the overexposure to the peroxide chemicals each night.

What was discovered: Although the trays have a higher dose of the peroxide treatment, and for a longer period of time, those who used the strips had about a ninety-one per cent effectiveness, and those who used the trays had a much lower rate of successful results. However, those that used the trays were able to whiten more teeth than those with strips because the strips only affect the first eight teeth, while the tray covers almost all of them.

Although both of these specific products are only available with a prescription through a dentist’s office, you can by a consumer over the counter version of the strips at a local drug store. The over the counter version (such as Crest White Strips) has a less powerful amount of peroxide as the dentist version and is not recommended for people with porcelain crowns, which is why it’s better to go with the prescription products.