How to Whiten Teeth
Steps
- Understand what causes discoloration in teeth.
- Cracks appear in the enamel and are exposed to food and other debris. This accumulates and causes yellowing or browning.
- While the enamel is white, the natural color underneath the enamel is a yellowish-brown. As enamel chips away or breaks down, this natural color can be seen.
- Younger teeth have less natural yellow showing and they also have fewer cracks in the enamel, thus less build up. Therefore, a younger person will usually have more response to teeth whitening processes.
- Cracks appear in the enamel and are exposed to food and other debris. This accumulates and causes yellowing or browning.
- Review the options below and choose one.
- Let's consider your budget. Store bought kits run from $20-50 per treatment. For tough staining you may need more than one treatment. So, should you consider the dental office kits? Those range from $100-$300. This is a big price difference, but perhaps your needs will require more than what a store kit can offer. Teens and twenty-somethings will likely have a much better response to the store kits than would a person who is fifty-something. What about office visits? These visits average about $600 each. The good thing about this method, is that results are long lasting, sometimes up to a year. Again, it all depends on what your teeth have been exposed to and how long the problem has existed.
- Let's consider your budget. Store bought kits run from $20-50 per treatment. For tough staining you may need more than one treatment. So, should you consider the dental office kits? Those range from $100-$300. This is a big price difference, but perhaps your needs will require more than what a store kit can offer. Teens and twenty-somethings will likely have a much better response to the store kits than would a person who is fifty-something. What about office visits? These visits average about $600 each. The good thing about this method, is that results are long lasting, sometimes up to a year. Again, it all depends on what your teeth have been exposed to and how long the problem has existed.
Prevention
- Avoid tobacco products.
- Stop or cut back on drinking coffee or tea.
- Pass on the grape juice. And that includes red wine!
- Stay away from curry.
- Brush your teeth immediately if you choose to partake in any of the items just mentioned.
- Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.
- Find commercial toothpastes with chemical tooth-whitening agents. Look for a toothpaste with American Dental Association approval, and use it regularly.
- Make your own whitening toothpaste, but see the warnings first. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda and 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide to make a paste.
- Use a whitening kit according to package directions. You can look for an over-the-counter whitening product with ADA approval, or you can ask your dentist about professional whitening kits. The kits given out by dentists use a lower peroxide concentration and can be left on longer, sometimes overnight. Application is with a custom made bleaching tray that fits in your mouth, similar to a mouth guard. In general, use a whitening kit as follows:
- Brush and floss your teeth as usual.
- Insert the whitening gel into the mouth tray. Put a teardrop-sized quantity of whitening gel in each compartment. Use the same amount in each tooth compartment for uniform whitening of all your teeth.
- Don't apply too much gel. It could squeeze out of the mouthpiece and irritate your gums, aggravating any existing condition. Avoid contact between the whitening gel and the gums. Do not use the whitening gel in any method other than the directions provided on the packaging.
- Place the whitening tray in your mouth slowly and ensure it is snug to your teeth. Often whitening trays can be formed to fit your teeth by placing them in hot water for a minute or less. Follow directions for the tray if the whitening kit you purchased includes this feature.
- The ingredient that makes at home teeth whitening kits work is that chemical called Carbamide Peroxide. The peroxide plunges into the surface of the tooth and begins to wear away the substances that were left behind that are causing the discoloration. This is a completely safe procedure that is usually painless. In fact, you won't feel a thing unless you have an issue with your teeth-people who do not have good dental health are not advised to use at home teeth whitening kits unless they first check with their dentist.
- The ingredient that makes at home teeth whitening kits work is that chemical called Carbamide Peroxide. The peroxide plunges into the surface of the tooth and begins to wear away the substances that were left behind that are causing the discoloration. This is a completely safe procedure that is usually painless. In fact, you won't feel a thing unless you have an issue with your teeth-people who do not have good dental health are not advised to use at home teeth whitening kits unless they first check with their dentist.
- Leave the whitening trays in your mouth for the recommended time in the kit's directions.
- Remove the trays and wash them with cool water. Store them in a clean, dry place.
- Rinse out your mouth and brush your teeth again to remove all excess whitening gel.
- Brush and floss your teeth as usual.
Dentists or trained dental technicians will apply a higher concentration of peroxide and leave it on for 15-20 minute intervals. Total time does not exceed an hour. Depending on the factors like a person's age and the stubbornness of the stains, further visits or home supplemental treatment may be required.
Tips
- Clean your teeth thoroughly. Get a professional cleaning if you haven't lately. You should get a professional cleaning every six months. A professional cleaning will remove stains from food and ensure that your teeth and mouth are otherwise in good condition. Regularly having your teeth cleaned by a professional is great preventative medical care that will help you avoid many common dental conditions.
- Your dentist has additional teeth whitening options available, including whitening gels, laser teeth whitening, and even cosmetic, paint-on treatments.
- Be sure to wipe away excess carbamide peroxide gel because it can irritate your gums. Using too much gel in the whitening tray can also irritate your gums, as it will squeeze out of the tray during use.
- The higher the carbamide peroxide gel agent the faster your teeth will whiten. Most home teeth bleaching kits are 10% to 23% carbamide peroxide gel. Stronger concentrations may be available as a prescription, so ask your dentist if using a higher concentration is safe for your teeth and mouth.
- Keep in mind that if you have had extensive dental work done such as crowns or veneers that match your actual tooth shade, using at home teeth whitening will not do anything to change the color of those particular teeth.
Warnings
- If your gums look swollen or hurt after a whitening treatment, stop immediately. If limiting the frequency or duration of at-home teeth whitening treatments still results in irritation, discontinue use and consult your dentist immediately.
- Any small cuts in your mouth may be sensitive to the peroxide, but it's actually just cleaning out the wound, and it does tingle a bit. This is a normal reaction.
- Do not swallow toothpaste, it can and will irritate your stomach and may cause vomiting. Excess fluoride can be poisonous for small children.
- Baking soda actually removes the enamel, which is the reason for the whitening since you are getting down to unstained layers in the teeth, but this exposes the teeth directly to bacteria and the like without the enamel protecting them.
Things You'll Need
- Baking Soda
- Peroxide or over-the-counter whitening kit.
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
Related wikiHows
- How to Brush Your Teeth
- How to Whiten Teeth With Baking Soda
- How to Whiten Teeth With Hydrogen Peroxide
- How to Brush Teeth Without Toothpaste
- How to Take Care of Your Teeth
- How to Look Clean
- How to Choose the Right Chewing Gum
Sources and Citations
How to Whiten Teeth With Baking Soda
Everybody brushes their teeth with normal toothpaste, right? Well, with this at-home product, you can brush your teeth and make them even whiter in fourteen days!
Steps
- Wet your toothbrush with some water and dip it into baking soda. All of the bristles should be covered so that your toothbrush is white.
- Brush your teeth for 2 minutes (spitting if necessary) two times a day.
- Spit out the baking soda and rinse your mouth clean with water(You dont want baking soda in your mouth for a long period of time).If there is a tingling or burning feeling in your mouth, this is bad. See Warnings for what might not be normal. Brushing your teeth twice a day can be monumental for the whitening of teeth even without these tips & tricks - especially with the regular use of dental floss and mouthwash. Using mouthwash after can help to get rid of the bad taste of the baking soda.
Tips
- After brushing your teeth, brush your tongue with your favorite spice and/or use a fruit. Bad breath is related to teeth only when they house food debris and plaque. The main cause of bad breath is bacteria growing on the gums.
- An alternative method involves putting baking soda on the toothbrush and wetting it with a little bit of hydrogen peroxide (the cheap stuff one pours on cuts). It really does work!
- Also try mixing the baking soda with a little bit of water and toothpaste in a container and brush your teeth that way. Don't use this method too much, as it can damage your teeth.
- You can also mix lime juice with baking soda. Keep stirring until a paste is created. You may be require to add more baking soda depening on how much lime juice you use.
Warnings
- Do not use this method too often as the abrasive can permanently damage the enamel of your teeth. There are some special toothpaste brands (often for smokers) which contain much gentler abrasives than baking soda. They can be used daily without any risk for the health of your teeth and help to remove not only tobacco stains but also stains from coffee, tea, and wine.
- Baking soda can dissolve orthodontic glue. Do not use this method if you have braces or a permanent retainer.
- Best used only once or twice a week.
- Don't brush too hard for a longterm as it may damage your enamel (which is called as abrasion),leading to hypersensitivity.
- Don`t put too much baking soda or it will cause teeth to bleach.
Related wikiHows
- How to Have Great Teeth
- How to Brush Teeth Without Toothpaste
- How to Brush Your Teeth
- How to Keep Your Children Brushing Their Teeth
- How to Take Care of Your Teeth
- How to Deal With Dental Devices
- How to Choose the Right Chewing Gum
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