Teeth whitening is more popular than ever, as more and more people strive for a brilliant, dazzling smile. From whitening toothpastes to more elaborate systems, there are more ways to reach that goal than ever before.
What’s the best way to get whiter teeth?
Dental professionals agree that the reason teeth lose their luster is that they aren’t properly cared for over the years. That doesn’t mean the teeth aren’t healthy. It means that so many of the things we eat and drink can stain and discolor them. The goal of some teeth whitening procedures is to remove at least some of the stain and discoloration, so that the natural whiteness of the teeth is restored.
Whitening toothpastes are popular, but may not perform as advertised. “You can’t whiten your teeth with a toothpaste,” says Dr. Mark Burhenne. “Toothpaste can’t penetrate the tooth for what we call intrinsic whitening, which is a change in color of the tooth. The very best we can expect from a toothpaste is extrinsic whitening, which is removing stains that sit on the exterior surface of the teeth.” To get whiter teeth from brushing, Dr. Burhenne recommends an Oral B electric toothbrush with a whitening toothpaste for polishing.
Whitening strips are another popular method you can use at home. The active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide, which lifts stains off of teeth. Whitening strips can lighten your teeth by about five shades.
At-home trays, available from some dentists, use a bleaching gel to whiten the teeth. Your dentist creates trays that are custom-fitted to your mouth. There are over-the-counter trays that work the same way, but the bleaching gels are not as strong as what you can get from a dentist, and some patients say they irritate their mouths.
You should never use any whitening system without talking to your dentist first. There could be an underlying issue, like decay or gum disease, that is making your teeth yellow.
Probably the best whitening, and certainly the safest, is that which is done by a dentist. There are methods that will dramatically whiten your teeth in as little as one hour. One is Opalescence Tooth Whitening Systems. With Opalescence, the tooth whitening formula is applied directly to whitening trays, which are worn nightly or daily, until the desired shade is reached. The teeth whitening formula slowly penetrates the tooth enamel to bleach out any stains.
What’s the bottom line? There are many teeth whitening options available. But the best advice may be to keep your mouth healthy. Brush and floss at least twice each day, and get regular check-ups that include a professional teeth cleaning.
From March through June, hundreds of dental practices throughout the United States and Canada professionally whiten teeth to raise money for seriously ill, disabled, and underprivileged children. They are members of the Crown Council, an alliance of leading-edge dental teams that are committed to promoting oral health and serving their communities through charitable work. 100% of the funds raised go to the Smiles for Life Foundation, the children’s charity arm of the Crown Council. Ultradent, the make of Opalescence® take-home trays, donates all of the teeth whitening supplies, and participating Crown Council dentists donate all of their time to whiten teeth during the Smiles For Life campaign.
