What’s the very first thing you notice about a person when you first approach them? Most people would say it’s the person’s smile. Whether it’s a job interview, first date, or just meeting a new friend, you should be able to flash a clean white smile that leaves others green with envy.
However, if your teeth are discolored or stained from certain drinks, calcium spots, smoking, or the like, your smile could be anything but dazzling. That will likely lead you to start researching whitening treatments — and if and when you do so, you’ll find out you have a lot more options that you may have realized.
From at-home DIY methods to quicker, more effective professional treatments, these are some of your teeth whitening options.
Oil Pulling
This easy method has been used for centuries by those looking for a natural way to detoxify their mouths. Right after you wake up, take a spoonful of coconut oil, swish it around in your mouth for about a minute (it will melt), and then spit it out. While the oil is moving around, it’s pulling the bacteria and plaque that can cause discoloration and stains off your teeth and out of your mouth entirely.
Bonus: Coconut oil is also pretty good for your gums and can help prevent bacteria from growing on your teeth that could otherwise cause bad breathe and gum disease.
Whitening Toothpaste
These have become all the rage when it comes to at-home whitening. Depending on which product you use, whitening toothpaste can work to simply remove surface stains from your teeth while others will go farther down into your enamel and remove stains from deeper within your tooth.
A word of caution when it comes to using a whitening toothpaste: These products can sometimes be abrasive and wear down your enamel the more you use them. You should try to choose a toothpaste that also helps remineralize your teeth and fill in tiny cracks where enamel may be weakened or broken down.
Whitening Strips
A step up from whitening toothpaste are whitening strips. These are plastic strips that contain peroxide and wrap around your teeth for a gradually whiter appearance. Most strips require you to wear them for a half hour to an hour per day for about two weeks.
When you use the strips correctly, your teeth’s whiter appearance should last several months. The strips also can be used for last-minute whitening, since some products offer results in just a few days.
It’s important to remember that, in order to protect your enamel, you shouldn’t use whitening strips too often.
Whitening Trays
This is when your dentist gets involved in your whitening journey. If you and your dentist decide that this is the route you want to take, they’ll take an impression of your teeth and have special trays made for you.
You’ll then take the trays home, put a whitening gel into them, and wear them for anywhere between a half hour to a couple of hours a day. You’ll continue this for one to three weeks, depending on the strength of the gel you’re using.
One of the main perks people like about this method is that you can see the gradual results each day as you continue the treatment. If you find that your teeth are getting whiter than you’d prefer, you can simply stop wearing the trays.
In-Office Whitening
This is the quickest way to achieve white teeth — so it’s what you’ll want to choose if you’re in a real hurry. The Zoom! Whitening in-office treatment (emphasis on “zoom”) use a whitening gel combines with an LED whitening lamp to get your teeth up to eight shades whiter in less than an hour!
If you choose this treatment, you may experience a bit of tooth sensitivity for a couple of days, so you may want to invest in a sensitivity toothpaste. The results from this treatment typically last about six months, so you may want to schedule a touch-up later on. Overall, Zoom! Whitening offers you the fastest way to get a stunningly white smile!
Get a Brighter Smiler with Smiles by Jiveh
At Smiles by Jiveh, we offer professional, effective teeth whitening treatments that lift stains and discoloration from your smile. We want you to feel confident when flashing those pearly whites! Our prestigious dentist specializes in smile design and restoration, taking advantage of the latest in teeth whitening technologies.
To schedule your whitening treatment in West Palm Beach, give us a call today!
The information provided in this article is not meant to be medical advice and is for educational purposes only. If you would like to learn more about this and other dentistry-related topics, feel free to contact Smiles By Jiveh by clicking here or by calling (561) 798-9997.