Are your pearly whites not quite as white as you\u2019d like? There\u2019s a lot you can do to turn your teeth into brighter, dazzling ones. You could get professional bleaching at your dentist\u2019s office, apply a home-use product from your dentist, or use over-the-counter whitening strips. The right option for you depends on how much you want to spend and how quickly you want to see results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your dentist will use a much stronger whitener than anything you could get at the store or online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whitening gels used by dentists usually have a 25% to 40% concentration of hydrogen peroxide, says Yiming Li, DDS, Ph.D., professor of restorative dentistry at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. That\u2019s the stuff that changes the colour of your teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The gel stays on for 15 or 20 minutes. That process is repeated once or twice. Hewlett says you should see a difference in about 45 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Victor K. Ryoo, DDS, owner of Ryoo Dental in Fullerton, CA, has seen varying results with in-office bleaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople expect that they\u2019ll come in for an hour and that their teeth will be dazzling white and that\u2019s not the case. It will always depend on what the starting point is and what their habits have been in the past,\u201d including whether they\u2019re heavy coffee drinkers or drink red wine, he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your second option is to ask your dentist to give you a take-home treatment. He\u2019ll take an impression of your teeth and use that to make a fitted top and bottom tray. The whitening gel goes inside the trays. You can choose to whiten in the day or night. Your Dentist will have kits for both.Most people will see a difference in about 2 to 3 weeks. The treatment only works if you use it, though, so you have to be motivated to follow through with it, Ryoo says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main drawback is tooth sensitivity. While any kind of whitening can cause it, stronger products are more likely to bring it on, Hewlett says. \u201cIt\u2019s a balance between getting the job done and having it being comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Switch to toothpaste for sensitive teeth a week before you start the whitening. Keep using it during treatment. Once you stop whitening, the sensitivity goes away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re looking for a wallet-friendly option, consider buying whitening strips at the drugstore. Kits range from about $30 to $65.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They do work, Hewlett says. He suggests you see a dentist first to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whitening mouthwashes, on the other hand, probably won\u2019t do much. And whitening toothpaste is designed to remove stains on your teeth, not to make them whiter. Some have a small amount of peroxide, but not enough to change tooth colour. If you\u2019ve already whitened your teeth, these products can help you maintain the colour. Be sure to choose one with fluoride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once your teeth are dazzling, you\u2019ll need to whiten them every 6 months or once a year to keep them looking the way you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even after a professional whitening, your teeth can still get stained on the outside from drinking coffee, tea, and red wine, and from smoking. You can also try rinsing out your mouth with water after you sip a dark drink to lower the chances of stains. You can also pass a damp toothbrush over your teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And while it may be tempting to want a blinding movie-star white smile, Li says dentists advise against bleaching too much. Your teeth won\u2019t look natural if they\u2019re lighter than the whites of your eyes.Feature<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Edmond R. Hewlett, DDS, professor of restorative dentistry, UCLA School of Dentistry; associate dean, outreach and diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yiming Li, DDS, MSD, PhD, professor of restorative dentistry, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry; associate dean, research; director, Center for Dental Research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Victor K. Ryoo, DDS, Ryoo Dental, Fullerton, CA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
American Dental Association: \u201cStatement on the Safety and Efficacy of Whitening Products.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boston University: \u201cThe Truth About Teeth Whiteners.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Are your pearly whites not quite as white as you\u2019d like? There\u2019s a lot you can do to turn your teeth into brighter, dazzling ones. You could get professional bleaching at your dentist\u2019s office, apply a home-use product from your dentist, or use over-the-counter whitening strips. The right option for you depends on how much you want to spend and … <\/p>\n