Teeth Whitener Options
It can be really frustrating to take exceptionally good care of your teeth in every way and then look in the mirror and see awful looking stains and discoloration staring back at you. Sometimes despite your good intentions and good hygiene teeth get darker over time and stain in various areas.
Teeth can stain for an array of reasons. Heredity plays a role as does the aging process. There are certain beverages that if consumed repeatedly can cause the teeth to stain. Examples of these include coffee, tea, red wine and colas. Old fillings can also cause staining as can antibiotics made up of tetracycline. The use of abrasives on the teeth (such as vigorous brushing with a toothbrush with hard bristles) as well as excessive fluoride can expose the dentin of teeth and can bring about moderate to severe discoloration.
The use of whitening toothpaste is useful to an extent when it comes to minimizing stains on the teeth. Dentists often refer to surface staining of the teeth as extrinsic staining. On the other hand, deeper stains and discoloration that have developed over time are known as intrinsic staining. Whitening toothpastes and professional cleanings can improve the appearance of extrinsic stains but not intrinsic ones. Methods of teeth whitening such as bleaching and laser whitening must be employed to cope with intrinsic staining of the teeth.
Teeth whitener options and methods generally fall into two broad categories. There are professional whitening systems and systems that can be used at home. Some of the professional systems are done in a series of appointments at the dentist’s office while others are done once at the dentist office and then you take the whitening system home and continue it there on your own. These are the most costly of the whitening methods. On the other hand, the home-based and home remedy whitening methods can either be purchased at a store or can come from ingredients you already have in your kitchen.
Many of the professional systems that you bring home from your dentist are tray-based whitening kits that you must use according to the dentist’s instructions. These kits must be used daily for a matter of weeks in order to achieve the results that you desire. The teeth whitening systems purchased through a dental professional are regarded as safe, effective and they work in a relatively short span of time. The important thing is to follow the directions as they are explained to you. Only then will you be on your way to having glowing white teeth!