It doesn’t matter how old you are, at some point you’ve wished for a whiter smile. That’s probably because the first thing anyone and everyone notices about you is your smile and you have an idea in your mind that a healthy smile is a white smile. However, this is not always true. Every decade that you age, your teeth can easily get 1 to 2 shades darker. Yup, you heard that right. Your pearly whites are not necessarily pearly anymore. The reason behind this is the color pigments that make up the tooth become more noticeable as the dentine structure beneath your enamel continues to grow. Let’s put it this way, your enamel is similar to a translucent glass that the dentin structure is behind; this is responsible for the color of our teeth. However, genetics, hygiene habits, and foods we eat do play a major role when it comes to the color of our teeth.
Luckily for you, there are a few ways to whiten your teeth at home. There are many ways out there, but today we will talk about 3 ways that are the popular options. We also offer the best-in-class whitening procedures available in Kennewick in our office.
Over-the-Counter Tray and Gels
Over-the-counter gels and trays were the first whitening technique. It is commonly known as a “boil and bite” process; you heat up a tray, fill it with gel, and place the formed tray in your mouth and bite down. The downfall is this process can take weeks to see results. Not to mention, about 80% of people also complain of sensitivity due to the carbide peroxide gel. If you do not mind a little pain for beauty, this is the method for you!
Whitening Strips
You’ve probably seen plenty of commercials for whitening strips. Whitening strips have been around for the last 10 years or so. They are made possible by researchers who realized they can insert hydrogen peroxide with a polyethylene strip that you can place directly on your teeth. While there are many whitening strips to choose from now a days, the only real difference you will notice with them are the amount of hydrogen peroxide in the gel, along with the shape and thickness of the strip.
While using the whitening strip, you will need to be careful not to burn your fingers or get the strip on your gums because it can cause irritation. Other than those two things, they are pretty harmless and you will begin seeing results in as little as 2 weeks.
Whitening Devices
Whitening devices are fairly new. The devices have only been out on the market for two or so years now. However, they are on a whole new level because you can get your professional whitening in the comfort of your home. Of course, this way has more potential for things to go wrong, but if you follow the directions to a “T”, you should be okay. The great thing about using a whitening device is you start to see results within as little as 2 days!
Just keep in mind, that every way has its disadvantages and advantages. As long as you are a responsible user, you should not have any problems. Remember, take all precautions when using any whitening product or method. Your teeth are important. And if you’d rather have someone else do the work for you, come to our office in Kennewick where we have a variety of whitening procedures!
