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Tooth Whitening Basics: Recapture Your Smile!

From unusual ointments to hydrogen peroxide injections (yikes!), people have sought the secret to longevity for decades. Now, more than ever, people are willing to go to extremes to retain their youthful looks. While many of these strategies are risky or downright unsafe, there is one relatively simple way turn back the years: teeth whitening. Sure, whitening your teeth may not help you live longer, but it can restore your smile, rolling back years of coffee and other stains. While there are a variety of professional tooth whitening and bleaching methods available today, most of them are safe and relatively effective. Those carried out under the supervision of a dentist will ensure maximum results and optimum safety! Here are a few of your options.

Teeth Whitening Toothpastes

While using a tooth bleaching toothpaste may be the easiest, most affordable way to brighten your smile, it isn't ideal for those searching for a significant improvement. Some produce marginal improvement, while others produce none at all. They are relatively safe, but be sure to contact our office if you find your teeth are more sensitive than usual. Some lightening chemicals can actually erode tooth enamel, damaging your teeth.

Over-the-Counter Tooth Whitening and Bleaching Agents, Strips

Whitening agents and strips are more popular than ever before, and vary dramatically in price and effectiveness. While most are generally safe, it's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. As with whitening toothpastes, some agents and whitening strips can be too harsh, damaging your teeth and increasing their sensitivity.

Dentist-Managed Teeth Bleaching Trays

One of the safest, most effective ways to whiten your teeth is through dentist-managed tooth bleaching trays and whitening agents. If you choose to go this route, your dentist will begin by taking a mold of your mouth to design a plastic tray that will fit snug against your teeth. You'll spread tooth whitening gel through the tray, slip it over your teeth, and let it do its job! Continue to do this over a course of a few days to acquire the results you were looking for. Once again, please report any sensitivity to your dentist.

Chair-Side Teeth Whitening

Also one of the safest, most effective whitening techniques, chair-side whitening is chemical teeth bleaching done by your dentist, in-office, in about an hour or so. There are a variety of options available today - your dentist can steer you in the right direction. While chair-side professional tooth whitening and bleaching can be a bit more expensive than other alternatives, it's done under the supervision of a professional and delivers fast results.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Yellow Teeth Embarrassing You? Not After Tooth Whitening!

I don't know what your favorite color is, but when it comes to your teeth, I bet it's not yellow!

Yellow teeth can be caused by many things, but cigarettes and coffee are the top offenders. Just as a cigarette filter picks up a yellow stain, so do smokers' teeth. Coffee can stain your shirt - and your teeth. So can tea and cola.

In fact, almost anything that can stain fabric or dishes can stain teeth too. Any highly-pigmented food or beverage can leave its mark on your pearly whites. (Something to think about the next time you order curry!)

But there's good news if you want to brighten your smile! Tooth whitening actually works best on yellow teeth. While grey or bluish discolorations can be very difficult to remove, most yellow stains disappear quickly with teeth bleaching treatment.

After teeth whitening, you'll want to try to maintain that brilliant white smile by minimizing your exposure to stains. You can still enjoy coffee or tea, but it's better if you drink them relatively quickly and rinse afterwards; sipping coffee slowly throughout the day will add more stains to your teeth.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.