What Are Some Teeth Whitening Methods?

At one point or another every adult wishes they had whiter teeth. Overtime, teeth become stained by food, coffee, tea, or tobacco. Daily brushing and flossing will go a long way to keeping your teeth healthy and clean, but stains still happen. If you wish for whiter teeth, teeth whitening treatment may be a good option for you. There are a wide variety of teeth whitening treatment methods to consider. Below is more information about the different treatment methods available and some tips to help determine if teeth whitening is a good option for you.

Popular teeth whitening methods

There are many different teeth whitening methods that have shown to be effective. When you are determining which method is best for you, you should consider your budget, time, and how much professional oversight you would prefer. These are all factors that differ across the different whitening methods. The best place to start is to have a conversation with your dentist to talk through the different options available and which may be the best fit for you. Some of the methods you should consider include:

  • Professional in-office whitening: most dentists offer professional whitening services to remove external staining caused by food and tobacco use.
  • Professional bleaching trays: you can invest in whitening trays supplied by your dentist, either custom-made or generic, for you to use routinely at home to help reduce the more stubborn stains or yellowing.
  • Over-the-counter products: your dentist may recommend a good place to start is over the counter products like whitening toothpaste, gel, or strips to help remove surface stains between dental visits. These products are convenient and affordable options to use between visits or for easier to treat stains.
  • Veneers or bonding: a larger investment in the overall appearance of your teeth is custom veneers or dental bonding. These methods not only cover up stains and discoloration but can dramatically improve the look of irregular or damaged teeth.

Will teeth whitening work for me?

Teeth whitening is proven to be effective for almost anyone who is unhappy with the color of their permanent teeth. However, whitening is designed to target yellow stained teeth, not grey discoloration or stripping caused by fluoride. If you know you are interested in whitening your teeth, but you aren’t sure if it is for you, you should have a conversation with your dentist. Your dentist will talk to you about your goals and walk you through the options that may be best for you.

Here are tips to keep in mind when you are choosing a whitening treatment method:

  • Bleaching works best for teeth that are yellow in color. Teeth that are brown, gray, or are striped from too much fluoride will need an alternative approach.
  • Individuals with sensitive teeth may have extreme sensitivity to chemical whitening techniques.
  • Fillings, crowns, caps or bonding on the front teeth will not be impacted by the bleach. Meaning that once treated, your whiter natural teeth may no longer match your teeth with crowns or bonding.

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