Quick Summary
There are three broad routes to a brighter smile. Avoiding staining foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, red wine, berries, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and curry reduces the need in the first place. At-home options include whitening toothpastes, mouthwashes and strips, though overuse of strips can increase sensitivity. Professional whitening at the dentist is usually the fastest and most effective route.
A brighter smile can make a big difference in your appearance. There are lots of choices today for improving your tooth color. Here are details about some of the options so you can decide which way you may want to whiten your smile.
Eliminating the need:
One way to eliminate the need for teeth whitening is to avoid foods and drinks that are known to cause stains. These include items like coffee, tea, red wine, berries, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and curry. If you do consume foods that stain, try to brush your teeth as soon as possible before stains can attach to your teeth.
Whitening at home:
There are many products available at your drugstore to help you brighten your smile at home. Whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes are two types of options, although it can take a while to see results from these methods. Whitening strips are a popular choice, which are covered in a bleaching solution and attached to the fronts of your teeth. Depending on the brand and strength, they might be in place from 5 to 30 minutes daily for a week or two in order to achieve the desired results. Overuse of these strips can increase teeth sensitivity, so be careful not to use them too often.
Professional whitening:
Whitening procedures performed at your dentist’s office are usually the fastest and most effective way to spruce up your smile. Custom trays filled with a higher strength bleaching gel may be made to be worn either in the office or at home later. Another method that must be administered in the office involves a bleaching agent applied to your teeth’s surface and then a bright light to speed up the process. You can typically expect dramatic results from this type of professional whitening.
Do not let another day go by without taking care of your dental needs. Request an appointment now at our Billerica dental office!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which foods and drinks stain teeth most?
Items known to cause stains include coffee, tea, red wine, berries, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and curry. If you do consume them, try to brush your teeth as soon as possible before the stains can attach.
How long do whitening strips take to work?
Depending on the brand and strength, strips might be in place from 5 to 30 minutes daily for a week or two to achieve the desired results. Overuse can increase teeth sensitivity, so be careful not to use them too often.
What does professional whitening involve?
Custom trays filled with a higher-strength bleaching gel may be made to be worn either in the office or at home later. Another method, administered in the office, involves a bleaching agent applied to the tooth surface followed by a bright light to speed up the process.
Merry Dental, 337 Boston Rd, Billerica, MA 01821. 978-404-5400. Serving Billerica, Lowell, Chelmsford, Tewksbury, Burlington and Bedford.