Few of us are lucky enough to have been born with perfectly white teeth. The good news is that there are several ways to improve their appearance, with one of the most popular being teeth whitening.
If your teeth are stained or discoloured, you may be wondering how to get white teeth and the options available. So let’s jump in and take a look.
Teeth whitening or bleaching falls into three categories: DIY whitening, over the counter, and professional teeth whitening. You can find out more about each one below.
DIY teeth whitening
You only have to type into Google the words ‘how to get white teeth’, and it returns a staggering 434,000,000 results. Most of the suggestions are for natural remedies you can try yourself at home, including lemon juice, strawberries, and baking powder. Not only are these products ineffective, but in the case of lemon juice and strawberries, their acidity can damage tooth enamel. Our advice is to steer clear of DIY teeth whitening altogether.
Over the counter teeth whitening products
Walk down the aisles of your local supermarket, and you’ll find the shelves groaning under the weight of a plethora of teeth whitening products. From whitening toothpaste to whitening pens, mouthwashes and strips to at-home whitening kits, it seems there is something for everyone’s budget and lifestyle.
The problem with over the counter teeth whitening products
Teeth whitening is a simple process and involves little more than using bleach to lighten the teeth. The active bleaching agent in all teeth whitening products is hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.
At present, only dentists are allowed to use teeth whitening products that contain more than 6% hydrogen peroxide and 18% carbamide peroxide. Consequently, teeth whitening products sold legally in pharmacies and supermarkets have a relatively low concentration of peroxide. Therefore, when consumers use these products at home, they are often disappointed with the results and see very little, if any, change in the colour of their teeth, even after weeks of regular use.
Furthermore, one-size-fits-all teeth whitening kits may not fit properly. As a result, the bleaching gel may inadvertently leak onto the gums or inside the mouth, causing pain, irritation, and sometimes chemical burns.
How to get white teeth with professional teeth whitening
Although teeth whitening carried out by a dental professional is the most expensive of all the whitening options, it is the safest and longest-lasting method.
Patients are required to attend a consultation to ensure their teeth and gums are healthy before having their teeth bleached.
Not all teeth respond well to bleaching, and your dentist may recommend alternative treatments such as veneers or cosmetic bonding to help you achieve your smile goals.
Many dentists offer the option of in-chair teeth whitening or custom take-home whitening kits.
In-chair whitening lightens the teeth by several shades within an hour. In just a single appointment, you can walk away with a dazzling white smile.
Custom at-home whitening kits are cheaper and produce just as effective results, although it can take 14 days to see any noticeable difference.
Dentist supervised teeth whitening can last up to a year. Custom whitening kits can help top up your whiteness to help make your white smile last longer.
So now you know how to get white teeth; all you need to do is decide which option to choose.
Are you ready to whiten your teeth?
Here at My Local Dentists West Ryde, we use Philips Zoom in-chair whitening and provide custom take-home whitening kits. Why not schedule a consultation and take the first step to a whiter smile and a happier, more confident you.
Call today on (02) 9809 7000 or use our online booking service.