Teeth Whitening Tips: What You Don't Know May Surprise You

If you are so concerned about the appearance of your discolored teeth that you have a hard time smiling, but don't know what to think about all the teeth whitening options of which you've heard, don't give up. With the help of a few teeth whitening tips, you'll be able to clear up many of the misconceptions and decide if there's a teeth whitening procedure in your future.

The first of the teeth whitening tips is that while teeth whitening can be expensive, it doesn't have to be. And when you consider that a 1998 survey indicated that 85% of those questioned believed an unappealing smile would make them less attractive to the opposite sex, teeth whitening may be cheap at twice the price.

Peroxide Is Safe The second of the teeth whitening tips is that, in sprit of what you may have heard, the peroxide-based gels used in most commercial teeth whitening systems will not cause permanent damage to either your teeth or your gums. It's true that some home whitening kits do cause gum irritation in the users, but the probable reason is not the peroxide gel; it's the ill-fitting mouth piece into which the gel is injected. The tray can slide back and forth as the wearer tries to shift it to a comfortable position, thereby scraping the gums.

Your dentist, should you decide to have your teeth professionally whitened, will use a gel with a far stronger concentration of peroxide, but will put it into a mouth piece molded to fit your teeth perfectly.

The third of the teeth whitening tips is that if you do experience any of the rare side effects, like heightened tooth sensitivity, you can simply halt the treatments for a few days until the problem passes. If the sensitivity returns, follow your treatments by brushing with toothpaste especially made for sensitive teeth; their irritated nerves will soon quiet down.

Professional Vs. At-Home Treatments Another of the teeth whitening tips is that, in the end, the results you get from professional whitening will not be too much more noticeable than those you can achieve by performing teeth whitening at home, as long as you follow the manufacturer's instruction. But there are two other teeth whitening tips which accompany this one: a professional laser whitening treatment will give you immediate results, which can last from two to five years. An at-home whitening system will usually require daily treatments for between three and four weeks.

The other accompanying teeth whitening tip is that no form of treatment will provide permanent results. The best you can reasonably expect from at-home treatments is about six months. But they are inexpensive enough that you can do several years' worth for the amount of money you'll spend on a single laser whitening session.

What To Avoid The final two teeth whitening tips may be the most important; avoid teeth staining substances like coffee, tea, tobacco, berries, or red wine; and avid any home teeth whitening tips which suggest the use of lemon or orange juices and peels.

Citrus fruits like lemons and oranges are very good for us because they contain so much of the antioxidant Vitamin C, but that same Vitamin C is also known as citric acid. By following home teeth whitening tips which recommend orange or lemon juice, you will be bathing your teeth in citric acid, which will eventually weaken their calcium, making tooth decay or breakage much more likely.

These teeth whitening tips are just a few pointers to get you on your way to the bright healthy smile you deserve!

by Judy Wellsworth