Teeth Whitening FAQ

Are you considering having your teeth whitened by an over-the-counter or professional product? Before you decide on which method to go with, you should understand your options and the risks involved in any teeth whitening procedure. You should also be aware of the natural ways to keep your teeth white or remove stains that you already have. Here is a basic teeth whitening 101 for you.

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.