Teeth whitening is one of the most common dental procedures in the United States and beyond. Over the years, our teeth get stained by a variety of factors such as eating certain foods and drinks such as coffee. There are numerous approaches to whiten your teeth and most of those are generally safe to use. Using the wrong approach can damage your teeth and require rehabilitative treatment that can end up costing a lot of money. Some of these complications include gum irritation, teeth becoming more discolored, and much more. With the risk of these complications, what are some of the best ways to whiten your teeth without causing any damage to them?
DIY Approach
There are a myriad of DIY methods and people sometimes get very confused about their efficacy. Some of these methods are safe while others can damage your teeth. For example, one of the commonly used home remedies for whitening teeth is baking soda. There is debate as to whether it is too abrasive to use as a teeth whitener and dentists recommend using it with caution. Another common DIY approach when it comes to whitening teeth is using teeth-whitening toothpaste. One limitation of these kinds of toothpaste is that they can only lighten tooth shades and typically just one or two shades at that. They can also be very abrasive and damage your enamel. Closely related to the teeth-whitening pastes are whitening rinses which work in the same way as the whitening toothpastes. The only advantage they have over the toothpaste is that they don’t come with the same abrasiveness as the toothpaste has.
Professional Teeth Whitening Options
When you use professional whitening options, you are less likely to cause any damage to your teeth. You are also likely to get far better results than you would if you used DIY approaches. Going professional means that you get to choose between the following options. One of the common approaches is chairside bleaching. Here, you get results fast and there is a low risk of harmful side effects. The process, however, needs to be done periodically in order to maintain the results that are achieved. The second option is the use of custom-fitted trays that are designed to fit precisely into your teeth. The duration that you need to wear these trays varies but ranges from 4 to six weeks. As technology evolves, new methods are coming up. For example, laser whitening is gaining popularity across the county. Laser whitening causes no damage to the teeth and is very effective. Even better, you can choose the shade you want meaning that you get the perfect smile.
Things To Note
When you are using other methods other than professional whitening methods, keep in mind that it is unwise to whiten teeth under the following circumstances. If you are pregnant or if you have teeth sensitivity. It might also not be wise to use DIY approaches if you are allergic to peroxide or have any underlying dental problem. One advantage of going to a dentist for teeth whitening is that he or she can also deal with any dental problem before whitening your teeth. Dr. Alex Rubinov is an experienced dental practitioner in New York. The practice offers a range of services including teeth whitening, smile makeovers, cosmetic dentistry, and orthodontics, to name but a few. Contact the team at (718) 253-0800 for an appointment.
