Teeth Whitening at Home: the Guide

With every commercial industry, there are competitive forces at work, stimulating the creativity of great minds within the industry, leading to new and better products. The teeth whitening industry is no exception. With the growth of the teeth whitening industry, new methods of whitening have been created. Many of these new methods of whitening have allowed people to receive proper teeth whitening at the convenience of their homes. In this article you will be able to find information on this one half part of the massive dental whitening industry; methods of teeth whitening at home.

The priciest method of whitening teeth at home is using a professional teeth whitener ; the whitening tray. At the dental clinic, an imprint of your teeth is made with special clay, and from that, a personal mouth tray is made for you. A special whitening formula is added to the tray, and it is there where the whitening magic happens. The tray is then kept in your mouth for the recommended length of time. There is usually enough of the whitening gel to last for a two week prescription.

Like any method, there are pros and cons to using a whitening tray. In comparison to the other whitening methods that will be mentioned throughout the article, using a whitening tray from a dental clinic will be the most effective and the fastest way to whiten your teeth. The fact that it is custom made for your teeth will give you a good all around whitening, while the one-size-fits-all products available on the market might not be able to get to certain areas in your teeth. However, it is by far the most expensive way. It has an initial cost of $100-$400, with roughly $50 refills on the whitening compound.

At home teeth whitening does not have to be done with expensive professional products. There are many effective over the counter whitening teeth products that are available in the market.

TOOTHBRUSH

Although it may not always jump to mind, the toothbrush is a whitening product. It is a surface whitening product, which means that it removes the outside stains that are present on the teeth. So there are limits to what it can do. It will not be able to drastically whiten your teeth. Among the toothbrushes, a spinbrush is recommended, as it is more effective at removing stains.

TOOTHPASTE

Toothpastes are also whitening products. Toothpastes, like toothbrushes, help remove the outside stains of the teeth. Although normal toothpastes may stop there, there are whitening toothpastes with bleaching compounds that will help whiten your teeth. Those variations are recommended for the purpose of teeth whitening.

WHITENING TRAYS

These over-the-counter whitening trays are similar to the ones given out at the dental clinics. However there are some differences. Some advantages include the lower price, and not as much hassle when getting a hold of one, but there is a tradeoff with efficiency. These one-size-fits-all products are not custom made for your teeth, so they will not fit your teeth as well as its professional variations. This leads to problems, as some parts of your teeth may not get as much bleaching in comparison to other parts of your teeth.

BRUSH ON WHITENERS

Brush-on-whiteners are one of the newer whitening products. They are applied to your teeth after a meal, a drink or a snack, to prevent new staining from food. However, dental professionals are divided when it comes to their effectiveness. While some do not question its worth, others do not believe in its value.

WHITENING STRIPS

Whitening strips are one of the easier to use solutions in teeth whitening. They are flexible strips coated with a whitening gel and are attached to the teeth. However, they do have disadvantages. Due to their design, it is hard for all of the teeth to be exposed to the whitening strip. Parts of the teeth like the crevices in between the teeth will not be exposed to the strip. People with less-than-perfect teeth will also find it hard to have the strip exposed to all the parts of their teeth.

When looking for a whitening product, it is good to have some things to keep in mind. It will be better to find products that are supported by the major dental organization in your country. In the U.S.A. there is the ADA (American Dental Association), that have ADA Seals for products they approve of. If this is not possible, then buying products from trusted brand names is recommended.

During the whitening process, it is not uncommon for your teeth to become more sensitive. If this occurs, it is advisable to reduce the use of the whitening products and use toothbrushes for sensitive teeth. Speaking to a dental professional about your concerns is also a good idea.

With all of what the teeth whitening industry has to offer, it is often easy to forget these methods of home teeth whitening, natural whitening methods. These methods are inexpensive and use ingredients the general public have at home, so it is easier to whiten teeth at home. Here are the more common ways to whiten teeth naturally.

LEMON JUICE/LEMON PEELS

Using lemons as a whitening tool may sound strange, but it is a proven method. Lemon juice can be used to brush your teeth, or lemon peels can be rubbed against your teeth to whiten them. This method is not without its disadvantages. The citric acid in the lemon will harm your teeth and its enamel, so this method should not be used frequently, if used at all.

STRAWBERRIES

Using strawberries may sound like another strange method to whiten teeth, but strawberries contain natural abrasives to whiten teeth. You can use strawberries for this purpose by mashing them into a paste, and then using that paste to brush your teeth. However, strawberries, like lemons, are harmful for your teeth in the same way, due to the malic acid it contains. After using this treatment, you should brush your teeth or rinse your mouth.

WOOD ASH

This whitening method may be the most surprising of all. However, wood ash contains potassium hydroxide, which can be used to bleach teeth. Wood ash is used by brushing your teeth with it. You can mix it with toothpaste or sprinkle some on your toothbrush. Despite its effectiveness, it is not the best method to use. The potassium in wood ash also harms teeth enamel, and wood ash is not the most comfortable thing to use.

BAKING SODA

Unlike the previous three methods, this may be one that you are familiar with. Baking soda is a common ingredient in toothpaste, and is effective at removing stains. To use it, create a baking soda and water solution, and use that to brush your teeth with. When brushing, you should also brush past the gums softly, to avoid irritation. This is one of the best methods, it is safe, effective, and due to that, it is very popular.

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Using hydrogen peroxide is another popular method. It is a common bleaching ingredient in whitening products and services, although the hydrogen peroxide being used here is one that has a significantly lower concentration in comparison. To use peroxide for whitening, first brush your teeth and rinse with water. Then gargle the hydrogen peroxide while making sure not to swallow the peroxide, which is very, very dangerous. After swishing the peroxide, rinse your mouth again with some water. You can also dip your toothbrush into some hydrogen peroxide, and brush your teeth using the peroxide covered bristles of the toothbrush.