Do teeth whitening methods live up to their hype?

It seems like today that many people will go to great lengths to have a million dollar smile. Some go to the dentist to have professional procedures done to help them improve the whiteness of their teeth. Others instead opt for teeth whitening kits that let them be their own dentist in the privacy of their own home. There seems to be some misinformation out there regarding what these kits can and can’t do.

Many people believe that using a home whitening kits can minimize every kind of stain one may have on their teeth. Actually this is not true. Some stains simply are too difficult to be removed. Surface stains are the kind that these home whitening kits will effectively remove. These might be stains from things such as smoking, wine and coffee. Sometimes these kits can work to help stains found within the teeth, especially those caused by too much fluoride. However, tooth stains that are due to genetics or trauma cannot be removed by home whitening kits. People that find their teeth have turned yellow over the year might have more luck whitening their teeth than those who have always had yellow teeth. Those who’ve had yellow teeth for most of their life will need professional assistance since their stains are well below the surface of the teeth.

Another at home method for whitening teeth is simply to use a whitening toothpaste. Whitening toothpastes contain bleaching chemicals with a mild abrasive. However, this abrasive in no way poses any danger to your tooth enamel. There is a limit on how much of this product to use a day. Three times is the magic number. Most people find this method being much more effective when paired with another one.

An alternative to an entire whitening kit is to use white strips. These strips come with bleach that is designed to enter the teeth’s pores. Once this occurs, it can lighten the interior parts of the tooth enamel. Most white strips can lighten the teeth about two shades. Some people do find that bleaching can cause white spots due to dehydration of the teeth. Another thing to know about whitening is to avoid consuming beverages or foods that could stain the teeth. The teeth are fairly vulnerable for about an hour after the procedure is completed. With the pores already opened from the application of bleach, the teeth are much more susceptible to staining. Another thing to watch for is sensitivity. If you teeth become sensitive to the strips, then you need to discontinue use and contact a dentist.