Teeth Whitener

Have you ever wanted the kind of superstar smile you see celebrities have? They all have such bright white teeth. It seems everywhere these days people are using teeth whitening products to help them get that superstar dazzle.

People tend to feel more self conscious when their teeth are stained or yellowed. A person who is self conscious about their teeth is less likely to participate in talking and smiling with others.

Most of us know that teeth can get discolored from using products like tobacco, tea and coffee, but there are other items which can also contribute to teeth staining a lot of people may not know about.

Products like medications or certain types of antibiotics can also cause discoloration of teeth. An excessive intake of fluorine also contributes to teeth staining.

In addition, as we grow older our teeth lose enamel and can begin to form cracks and tiny crevasses where food and drink can penetrate causing discoloration.

The most popular remedy for teeth discoloration today is a tooth whitening product. However, there are a vast array of products on the market with a wide degree of difference in them in can become very confusing when deciding to whiten your teeth.

It helps to have an understanding of how the whitening process itself works. Most products use a degree of peroxide as a bleaching agent to lighten the discolored teeth.

The first layer on a tooth is the enamel, which is semi-translucent. The next layer is the dentin and in order to reach the dentin to whiten a peroxide solution of some type is applied to the enamel surface of the tooth.

When the dentin can be bleached effectively, the teeth whiten. The degree of whitening depends on how badly the discoloration or staining is. Usually an average person will see results of four or five shades lighter.

A cosmetic dentist often whitens teeth using a combination of whitening gel and laser treatment. This method is quite quick and effective, but also more costly. You may want to try one of several over-the-counter methods for whitening your teeth at home.

For at-home whitening products there are several methods to choose from: Mouthguard solutions – This is a bleaching solution containing carbamide peroxide which is placed in a fitted tray and then placed in your mouth.

The tray is usually fitted by a dentist and it is used on an overnight basis for about 1 – 2 weeks. Tooth whitening paste – This is a toothpaste that contains baking soda, peroxide or a combination of both.

When used regularly they can help lighten discolored teeth to a degree, but generally have a minimal effect. Whitening strips – These are specially coated small plastic strips you place over your teeth.

They have a bleaching agent in the coating which also acts as an adhesive to keep the strips in place. Generally these are worn for a short period of time, around ten minutes or so. Paint-on gel – This is exactly as it sounds.

Using a special applicator you actually paint the bleaching solution onto each tooth. The gel adheres better to teeth that are clean and dry. Tooth whitening is not a magic cure and you should remember it will take several treatments to obtain the desired results.