Teeth Whitening Method #1 – Natural Remedies
Utilising natural products to aid dental health is becoming more popular and when it comes to getting whiter teeth, naturopathy can play its part. According to the College of Naturopathic Medicine ingredients like mashed strawberries, coconut oil, baking soda and even turmeric are all said to possess teeth whitening properties.
The obvious advantage is that natural ingredients contain no manmade chemicals and fit right into the ethos of those seeking natural or homeopathic alternatives to conventional medicine. However, research has found that at best, natural remedies only eliminate surface staining and won’t bleach or whiten teeth. In other words, your teeth (at best) will only return to their natural colour.
So what does this mean for you?
If you have teeth that aren’t brilliantly white naturally (unfortunately teeth do yellow or darken with age) then you might not see a great deal of difference or be disappointed at the end results.
Teeth Whitening Method #2 – Store-Bought Products
If you do a quick online search for ‘how to make your teeth white’ you’re likely to find a multitude of adverts showcasing the latest whitening product.
Over the last decade, DIY teeth whitening has boomed. In fact, the market is already a multi-billion dollar industry and is set to grow to around $7.4 billion by 2024.
Fuelled by social media and the information age, cosmetic dentistry has increased tenfold over a few short years. Teeth whitening is a huge part of that as greater importance is now being placed on the visual appeal of having a whiter, brighter smile.
For these reasons, there are an endless array of products available for people to purchase either online or over-the-counter. These range from whitening toothpaste and whitening gels, to teeth whitening pens, whitening strips and even state-of-the-art light devices.
That said, one of the issues with store-bought products is that results can vary tremendously depending upon the person, the product chosen, and the application or use.
Everyone’s teeth are different…. Different shapes, different sizes, and different shades. So a one-size-fits-all whitening product is unlikely to work for everyone. While one person may see results using one brand of whitening strips, another person may see little or no change.
Add to this the fact that the levels of hydrogen peroxide contained within a given product are strictly governed by law and results at best can take several weeks or months to achieve Even then there is no guarantee that they will work every time.
Teeth Whitening Method #3 – Professional Whitening
The final method is professional teeth whitening. When we use the term ‘professional whitening’, we really mean teeth whitening treatment carried out by a dental professional. Typically dentists can offer two methods of treatment. They come in the form of
- Take-home treatments and
- In-chair teeth whitening
In essence, take-home treatments are similar in nature to over the counter products in that they are also designed for use in the comfort of your own home. The key differences are that by law they are allowed to contain higher or more concentrated amounts of bleaching agent. This means that they have the ability to whiten teeth faster – typically somewhere between 10-14 days.
The other key difference is that the whitening trays used to hold the bleaching gel are custom-made by the dentist to fit your teeth. This means that the chances of even whitening are significantly increased.
Typically, however, a bespoke whitening treatment does come at a cost and can be more expensive than purchasing over-the-counter whitening products.
The second method of whitening teeth is in-chair whitening. As the name suggests, this method involves whitening treatment that is carried out chairside at the dental practice.
It will cost more than any other method of teeth whitening, but the results can be spectacular.
Because dentists typically use concentrations of hydrogen peroxide of around 30% or higher, results are usually achieved in record time. Patients can often see a transformation of several shades or more within just 1 hour of treatment. Moreover, because this service is carried out by a dental professional it’s also safer.
If you are unhappy with your current smile and are looking for further information on how to make your teeth white then why not contact the team at Beyond 32 Dental. We will give you an honest assessment of the treatments involved and will recommend the best one for your situation.
Call us today at (02) 9158 6334 to book a consultation.
Many of us wish we had a whiter smile. With the vast array of whitening products available on the supermarket shelves, it would seem easy Read more
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