Bright White Teeth

Trying to get bright white teeth over the summer? With the tons of advertisements out there bombarding you with zillions of different ways to achieve a beautiful white smile it's hard to know what the best is for you. Here are descriptions of the most common teeth whitening options:

In-Office Whitening

If you're really serious about white teeth or if you have seriously stained teeth, you should probably choose in-office power whitening. Zoom is a common power whitening system. These professionally applied bleach whiteners are extremely strong and contain hydrogen peroxide in concentrations ranging from 15 percent to 35 percent and are sometimes used together with a light or laser. Your gums will be sealed with a protective gel or isolated with a dental dam while you sit in the chair for about an hour with the bleach on your teeth. This stuff is strong and you can feel it working. You will only require one procedure … which will definitely run you a couple hundred dollars. 

If you're looking for a cheaper option you can purchase Dentist Dispensed/At Home gel whitening from your dentist. Your dentist will take impressions of your teeth then make plastic trays. You will also receive a strong whitening gel to put in the trays. The trays with the gel are to be worn for a few hours during the day or over night every other day over a two to four week period. The only bleach whitening that holds the ADA Seal of Acceptance is Opalescence Whitening Gel 10 percent. 

Over The Counter

OTC whitening products work by bleaching your teeth with carbamide peroxide. Usually these are gels that you can paint on to your teeth. This is a relatively safe and effective way to whiten as the most common side-effects are gum and tooth sensitivity and they usually subside shortly after treatment. 

Whitening toothpastes are different because they contain polishing or chemical agents to remove surface stains rather than bleaches to actually change the color of your teeth. These are gentler on your teeth and a good place to start whitening since it's so cheap and easy to use a simple whitening toothpaste. You should always choose a whitening toothpaste with the ADA Seal of Acceptance like Crest Pro-Health Whitening or Colgate Total Whitening. 

Home Remedies

If you only want to whiten your teeth slightly then there are plenty of natural foods that you can eat that promote whiter teeth. Strawberries, apples, and raisins are all good for your teeth and work as natural teeth whiteners. Recently Dr. Oz suggested a mix of baking soda and lemon juice as a natural home remedy for whitening teeth. This is only a good idea if you leave the mixture on your teeth for less than a minute and don't brush. The lemon juice is acidic and will erode the enamel of your teeth and baking soda is very abrasive- any damage done to the enamel of your teeth is permanent and will cause tooth decay, cavities, and sensitivity. It's safer to use Arm & Hammer toothpaste if you want the whitening power of baking soda on your side since Arm & Hammer uses a controlled amount of baking soda that will definitely not harm the enamel of your teeth.

Keep in mind that if you have any dental work like tooth-colored fillings, crowns, bonding, dental veneers, or bridges that no whitening products will not whiten these. Take caution whitening your teeth under those conditions, as the whitener is only capable of whitening your natural teeth.