Medically reviewed by Dr. Sumbul Wahab.
As a dentist, people are always consulting me on how to further whiten their teeth or maintain their prized pearly whites. Today I will be sharing some tested and tried techniques on teeth whitening which include self-care and remedies that will help you to brighten up your smile.
Teeth Whitening Toothpaste
Starting off with the basics, the first thing you can do to improve your teeth’s aesthetics is using clinically proven toothpaste and gels that help in removing surface stains. Although not as effective when it comes to whitening as bleaching would, it is still guaranteed to prevent discoloration as well as contamination of your teeth.
At-Home Teeth Whitening Strips
Another convenient product you can use at home is a teeth whitening strip. Coated with a peroxide-based whitening gel, this easy-to-use product helps get rid of tooth stains which are the primary cause of tooth discoloration. You can wear them for a few minutes daily for a week or more and the results are visible in just a few days and may even last a year.
DIY Teeth Whitening Kits
You’d be surprised how effective some self-care products can be. These readily available kits contain Carbamide Peroxide, a bleaching agent that removes surface stains and changes the natural color of your teeth. Much like bleaching white clothes, this works in a similar way. These come in trays/molds or in the form of gels and usually require a time period of 30-45 minutes to wear. However it is recommended to do this every 6 months-1 year as excessive bleaching can severely damage your teeth.
In-office Bleaching
Bleaching at a dental office will obviously be more expensive, however with the aid of a professional, better guidance and results are guaranteed. This method of bleaching will remove deeper stains and have longer lasting effects. The dentist is also responsible to apply specific concentrations of bleach suitable to your teeth. This will avoid over-bleaching and will provide the results as you desire.
Here’s the Tooth-Away!
With all that being said, the extent to how white your teeth are lays in your control. Consuming drinks and foods that will discolor your teeth like teeth, coffee, sugary drinks will only worsen your expectations of a brighter smile. Also, some foods such as celery, apples, pears, and carrots trigger lots of saliva, which helps wash away food debris on your teeth. Chewing sugarless gum is a tooth-cleansing action and also triggers saliva. A bonus from all that saliva: It neutralizes the acid that causes tooth decay. With teeth, more saliva is better all around.
So I hope this gives you a good idea on how to manage the esthetics of your teeth and we hope that you always keep smiling wider than ever.
Written by: Dr. Shayan Imran
