Professional Teeth Bleaching Options

Professional teeth bleaching are such tempting procedures for many reasons. While you’ll feel better about your teeth, you’ll be prompted to take better care of your pearly whites. But with so many options to choose from, you may need to consider what type of professional bleaching options are best for you.

Why are my Teeth Stained in the First Place?
Before you choose any professional teeth bleaching option, you’ll need to examine why your teeth may be stained. Reasons may include food, tobacco, or hereditary aspects, but have your dentist take a look to make a final decision!

• Food: Your teeth can get stained from foods and drinks, and while your teas, coffees, and sodas (paired with an occasional cigarette) may seem pretty tame, they are all contributing to the staining of your teeth. Black tea and nicotine can give your teeth a yellowed appearance.

• Age: The older you get, the darker your teeth may look. In addition, if you’re getting your teeth filled or have damaged your teeth in any way, it all adds up to a darker appearance.

• Medicine: Some types of antibiotics and some diseases can affect the color of your teeth. For example, if you took tetracycline as a child when your teeth were still developing, they may have an off-white, yellow, or even greenish color to them now.

Visit Your Dentist
Regardless of why your teeth look the way they do, your best option is to first visit the dentist for a preliminary analysis. If your teeth are gray or are feeling sensitive, loose, or painful in any way, it could be the sign of more serious symptoms than just yellow teeth.

Scaling and Polishing
You can get your teeth scaled and polished at the dentist prior to beginning any tooth whitening regimen, and you’ll see far more effective results. In fact, scaling can help slightly stained teeth look whiter and brighter. Your dentist will scrape away bacterial plaque from your teeth with a mechanical instrument, leaving your teeth free of buildup.

Over-the-Counter Treatments
Strips, paint-on solutions, trays, and pastes—there are lots of options to choose from when you’re planning to bleach your teeth. The easiest to use is a whitening toothpaste, but even that has its catches. Not all whitening toothpastes have the same composition, and some can be more effective than others. Always use recognizable major brands, or try natural whitening toothpaste from The Natural Dentist.

Nighttime Solutions
Others choose night solutions like Crest Night Effects White Strips or Colgate Simply White Night if they don’t have time during the day to use teeth bleaching solutions. Before you go to bed at night, you can apply a whitening gel to dry teeth and you won’t lose valuable time in your busy schedule. These whitening solutions all use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which break down into oxygen molecules to break up stains.

Tray Whitening Products
If you have pretty heavily stained teeth and you are looking for the most effective way to whiten your teeth, it will most likely be through a tray system. You will fill a tray similar to a mouth guard with a solution containing peroxide, similar to what is used at the dentist. While the solutions for over-the-counter treatments may not be as strong, results will initially appear after a few days. It may take up to four weeks to reach the desired shade you’re looking for.

Tray Bleaching
You can also bleach your teeth at a dentists with a tray system. Your dentist will fit a tray customized to your mouth, which will help to prevent irritation and will ensure a more accurate bleaching. Customization of the mouthpiece also means that your teeth will benefit from maximum contact with the bleaching gel, making your teeth the whitest possible during the procedure.

Laser Bleaching
With laser bleaching, a laser doesn’t actually whiten your teeth, but it does help speed up the whitening process. During this procedure, your dentist will apply a peroxide bleaching paste to your teeth, which is activated by a laser light. This procedure usually takes an hour and a half, and will cost from $500.

After Care
Use a whitening toothpaste to prolong the effects of your procedure. Whitening toothpastes can keep your teeth free of tartar that can effect how your teeth should look. Stick to well known brands, as some toothpastes can be more abrasive, making your teeth more sensitive and possibly effecting the enamel of your teeth as well.

After any bleaching treatment, your teeth will be more sensitive for the next 24 to 72 hours. Hydrogen peroxide can increase tooth sensitivity to temperature, especially when used in higher concentrations such as professional teeth bleaching systems. Just remember: if your teeth are bothering you excessively, discontinue treatment and head to your dentist, who can give you further advice.

Remember that any whitening system should be used in conjunction with regular dentist appointments and good personal hygiene at home. This will keep your teeth looking the best that they can!