Ready To Whiten Your Teeth? Three Options To Consider

Posted on: 14 November 2018

Having healthy teeth and gums is important, but having a white, bright, and appealing smile is also beneficial. The smile is the first thing people notice about you, so ensuring your teeth are clean and white will be a smart investment in your self-esteem and confidence. Of course, there are many ways to whiten and brighten your smile. This guide will help you learn the differences between whitening strips, mouthwashes, and professional treatments.

Strips

Head to your local drug store, discount retailer, or even grocery department and you will see a large selection of whitening strips. These strips are applied directly to the surface of your teeth and are worn for a period of time while you are at home.

Since they contain bleaching agents, the whitening strips can whiten discolored, stained teeth. However, because they are worn on the surface of the teeth, the bleaching agents on the strips will not reach the spaces between your teeth.

Many people who use whitening strips regularly will have whiter teeth, but will also have dark discoloration in the area where each tooth meet. Therefore, whitening strips are not always the best solution.

Rinses

Mouthwashes and rinses are another common option you may use if you want to whiten your teeth. These rinses offer antibacterial properties, which help kill bacteria and remove plaque from the teeth and gums. In addition, the rinses contain whitening agents, which can eat through plaque and tough stains on the teeth.

Whitening rinses are ideal if you have slight stains and discoloration of the teeth, but the rinse should be used regularly. If you have more severe stains, consult your dentist.

Professional Whitening

Professional whitening treatments are more effective than whitening strips and mouthwashes sold in stores.

To get started, a cosmetic dentist will apply a bleaching agent to the teeth, which not only covers the surface of the teeth but also the spaces in between and on the sides of your teeth.

A specialized light is directed to the teeth to activate the bleaching agents. After only a few minutes, the bleaching agents remove hard stains, whitening the teeth, and brightening your overall smile.

It is important to note that LED tooth whitening will cost more than products sold in stores. Remember that a healthy, appealing smile is an investment in not only your oral health but also your self-esteem.

Consult a cosmetic dentistry, such as Carolina Forest Family Dentistry, if you are interested in improving your smile with products sold in stores or professional treatments.

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Providing Children With Dental Knowledge

When my three children were young, they were all excited to go to the dentist. The dentist's office was great fun with a large fish tank and a variety of puzzle toys in the waiting room. I liked the pediatric dental office so much that I jumped at the chance when I was offered a receptionist job. Many of the children who came to see the dentist were not nearly as happy as my children. Most kids were scared and anxious, and I learned fairly quickly that the children were worried because they had no idea what to expect. The dentist at the office provided me with a set of dental tools that I could show to the children. I explained how each of the devices worked. This eased the fears, and I started this blog so parents could share dental information with their children before dental visits.