Teeth Whitening Methods

"Image has definitely become an issue of today. The media has utterly forced 99 percent of the public to conform to a certain standard or risk being ostracized. It's no secret that physical beauty is only skin deep, and never lasts, but technology has certainly put a twist on things. Products available these days do their absolute best to hinder the aging process. One of the many concerns that have taken the world by storm is smile luster. Yes, whitening teeth has become all the rage. No one wants to flash that less that stellar grin in today's society. Everyone is simply expected to have white teeth".....

 Whitening Toothpastes

Whitening toothpastes are considered as the most common and the most convenient way to whiten teeth. They contain active ingredients that gently remove stains and polish the teeth. Whitening toothpastes do not contain bleach and is very safe to the gums and mouth. However, whitening toothpastes typically lightens the color of the teeth only by a single shade and need to be used frequently for best results

Whitening gel and strip

This teeth whitening system can be purchased at most pharmacies. Whitening gels contain an active ingredient called peroxide that can be applied to the surface of the teeth using a small brush. Application should be done at least twice a day with results visible after a few days. However it would take four months to achieve best results. Whitening strips are thin strips that contain whitening gels that has peroxide. They are also applied at least twice a day and results are pretty much similar to whitening gels.

 Tray-Based Tooth Whitening (bleaching) 

The use of a teeth bleaching gel does not require the services of a licensed dentist. There are over-the-counter teeth bleaching kits that are cheap and very simple to use. These bleaching kits contain a tube of teeth bleaching gel and a mouthpiece tray. A small amount of bleaching gel is put in the mouthpiece tray and then the tray is placed inside the mouth leaving it inside for at least 30 minutes. For best results, the treatment should be carried out for three to four weeks.

 Laser tooth whitening

Laser teeth whitening is actually the easiest, fastest and most efficient way to whiten teeth. It is usually performed by a licensed dentist where a whitening agent is directly applied to the patient’s teeth with the aid of heat coming from a laser light, which speeds up the process of whitening. Results can be seen immediately after the treatment but it would take several sessions to achieve the best outcome.

Cosmetic Dentistry

A cosmetic dentist can help you to achieve the smile that you have always wanted. Many times, an improved smile can help not only your teeth, but also improve your personal self image. So go ahead and smile!

Today, many procedures are available for the cosmetic dentist. You can talk with your dentist about which procedure is right for you. Some more common procedures are discussed briefly below.

Tooth whitening is a common procedure. People may choose this procedure to improve their smile and give their face a healthier appearance. The cosmetic dentist may instruct you and provide you the materials to whiten your teeth at home, or may use in-office laser whitening procedures.  In most cases, people are pleased with their smile and their results.

Dental veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that are glued to problem teeth. Your cosmetic dentist may recommend this procedure to you if you have some teeth that are severely discolored or pitted. It may even help in some situations when there is too much space between teeth. Your cosmetic dentist will adjust the color of the veneer to naturally match the rest of your teeth and give you a wonderful smile.

A cosmetic dentist can also help if you have missing teeth that also affect your smile. He or she can provide you with dental implants or dental bridges to help. Dental implants are surgically screwed into your jaw. The implant screw is the anchor for the replacement tooth. Dental bridges on the other hand, are also false teeth. However, a dental bridge is held in place by surrounding teeth with a crown.

The cosmetic dentist can also help with teeth that are chipped, or crooked with tooth reshaping and contouring. Even cracked or overlapping teeth are candidates for these procedures. This procedure of only a few millimeters or change can lead to a more beautiful smile when performed by a cosmetic dentist. This procedure can alter the shape and even the length of your tooth.

Today, even dental fillings have a cosmetic component to them. Most of us have had amalgam or metal fillings in the past. While effective, metal fillings were conspicuous in your mouth and also tended to darken the tooth with the passage of time. Today, your cosmetic dentist can use a composite resin for the dental filling. The resin is colored to match your natural teeth. These new fillings not only are strong, they help keep your smile natural looking.