Looking for a way to achieve whiter teeth? While it’s possible to make your teeth whiter by stepping up your brushing routine and eating the right foods, it could take a while to notice a difference. Fortunately, there are much easier and more immediate ways to brighten up your smile. Below are just a few easy ways to achieve whiter teeth.
Use the right whitening toothpaste
Whitening toothpastes are one way to brighten up your teeth. Unfortunately, not all whitening toothpastes are created equally – while some are scientifically proven to be effective, others aren’t. As a result, it’s important to do your research in order to find the right ones.
This guide to whitening toothpastes offers a few examples of trusted brands. Generally speaking, you’re safe using the big brands. Always read reviews and look into ingredients when trying new lesser-known brands to ensure that they’re worth the purchase.
Some whitening toothpastes have more immediate results than others. Blue-toned brighteners will make your teeth appear white almost straight away – however this is only a temporary form of whitening. Those that use buffing or hydrogen peroxide can have a more gradual effect, but are more likely to keep your teeth looking whiter longer afterwards.
It’s important to always read instructions when using whitening toothpastes. For instance, those that use buffing shouldn’t be used too regularly – while they remove stains, they could also damage your enamel if overused.
Try whitening strips
Whitening strips are small strips containing gel on one side. They work by placing them gel side onto each tooth – you then leave them there for five to forty-five minutes depending on the product. The gel helps to immediately whiten the teeth. Results are only temporary, usually lasting only a few hours.
Like whitening toothpastes there are many of these whitening strip products on the market. It’s best to always do your research to find products that are trusted to work.
Consider an at-home teeth whitening kit
There are numerous at-home teeth whitening kits that use methods beyond toothpastes and strips. Some use LED blue light to help bleach your teeth from home.
Not all of these products work, so again you need to do your research. Those that are effective will generally only produce temporary results – but such results are likely to be quick. Such kits do not always work on heavily stained teeth.
Opt for professionally-fitted veneers
Veneers are thin layers of porcelain that are fitted to the enamel of your teeth. In doing so, they disguise the discolored tooth below.
For best results, porcelain veneers should always be fitted by a professional dentist. Avoid at-home veneer kits – especially those that aren’t professionally molded to fit your teeth. Most veneers are designed to be permanent, however removable veneers do exist.
Veneers can provide you with an instantly white smile while protecting the teeth beneath. The only downside to them is that they can cost a fair amount of money to be fitted. There are also certain foods that you may want to avoid afterwards.
Try professional teeth whitening
An alternative procedure to having veneers fitted is laser teeth whitening. This involves using a light to activate a bleach solution on the teeth. Like veneers it has instant results – although isn’t always permanent (you’ll usually experience a good few years of white teeth, but they may start to fade again after this period).
Laser teeth whitening is the most expensive option. Unlike veneers, you may have more freedom afterwards as to what foods you eat. That said, some people do experience sensitivity afterwards – especially when eating hot or cold foods.
Which is the best option for me?
When comparing teeth whitening options, it’s likely you’ll first want to consider your budget. Professional treatment may require a lot of saving up – if you don’t think you’re able to do this, you may want to stick to cheaper home treatments.
You should also consider how immediate you want the results to be. Some whitening toothpastes will take several weeks to have an impact, while whitening strips may produce instant results. If you need a whiter smile for the next day, a more immediate option is likely to be better.
It’s also worth considering the permanence. Some whitening methods only produce temporary results. If you’re hoping to change your smile forever, you may want to avoid these temporary whitening solutions. Opting for veneers or using a whitening toothpaste could be a better option.