Learning to Take Better Care of Your Family's Teeth

2 Teeth Whitening Options

If you want whiter teeth, there are multiple options available to brighten your smile. However, some options are only effective on a certain level or type of staining. Here are a few whitening options along with their best uses:

Natural whiteners

Natural whiteners can improve the whiteness of your teeth. However, they are often dependent on the abrasive nature of the material involved. Thus, they are best for light staining near the surface of the tooth enamel. Superficial stains, such as those from light coffee consumption or the ingestion of colorful foods, may respond well to natural whitening. Here are two natural whiteners for you to consider:

Baking Soda

Baking soda can be mixed with water to make a homemade toothpaste. If you choose to use baking soda, make sure that the paste remains loose or watery. Scrubbing your teeth with baking soda repeatedly can not only remove surface stains, it can eventually damage your tooth enamel.

Turmeric

Although turmeric is a bright yellow spice, it does not stain tooth enamel, and brushing with a moistened toothbrush dipped in turmeric powder can help polish stains from your teeth. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory nature of the spice can also benefit your overall dental health.

Professional Teeth-Whitening Gels

Even though over-the-counter whitening kits may offer some degree of whitening, if you have deep stains from tobacco, aging or chronic coffee or tea drinking, you will likely received better results from a professional teeth-whitening application. Professional teeth-whitening products use more concentrated gels, and they are applied by a dental professional. In addition, your dentist may use a special ultraviolet light to help improve the whitening effects of the bleaching solution. 

Several whitening applications may be needed to achieve your desire degree of brightening. However, once your teeth reach the desired shade, your dentist may recommend home maintenance care with whitening toothpaste, rinse or low-concentration gel.

Dental Veneers

If your teeth have permanent stains that will not respond to whitening gels, you may want to consider veneers. Veneers are thin slices of porcelain or resin that can be bonded to the front of your teeth to give the illusion of perfectly shaped, white teeth. Permanent stains, such as those from medications or congenital defects, can be fully covered. 

If you are thinking of whitening your teeth, consider the type and degree of staining that you have. In addition, schedule an appointment with a dental office, such as Oakwood Family Dentistry, to have your teeth examined. He or she can help you select an option that will be effective for your needs.  


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