Get Teeth Whitening and Look Like A Movie Star

Wouldn't it be great if you were known by your smile? Almost everyone would like to have a beautiful, ultra-bright, ultra-white Hollywood smile.  With recent advances in cosmetic dentistry, the smile you desire could be within your reach.  Let's take a look at some of your options for teeth whitening.

How do your teeth become discolored in the first place?  There are at least three main causes of teeth discoloration that might lead to your desire for teeth whitening.  The first cause is staining.  Your teeth can often be stained by the regular use of coffee, tea or cigarettes.  It's even possible to stain your teeth if you drink a lot of colas.  Teeth can also become discolored by the use of some medications.  One of the most common examples of this is the grayish-blue staining that occurs from the use of tetracycline.

The natural processes of aging also tend to lead to teeth discoloration.  Our teeth naturally change as we grow older.  The enamel becomes less porous and our teeth lose their natural, pearlescent shine.  In fact, that's one reason why people are interested in the use of teeth whiteners.  Whiter teeth are associated with a more youthful appearance. Teeth whitening may also become necessary to correct the discoloration caused by chemical damage, genetics and disease.

Teeth whitening can be accomplished a couple of different ways.  You may want to take advantage of one of the many over-the-counter solutions currently available.  There are also some in-home treatments that are supervised by your dentist.  Some teeth whiteners can be used only at the dentist's office under his direct supervision.  Or you might want to try one of the many home remedies for teeth whitening.

To start with, you choose one of the whitening toothpastes that are available.  All toothpastes are abrasive to some extent -- that's how they work.  Toothpastes that are designed for teeth whitening also contain gentle polishing agents to increase their effectiveness against stains.  However, they only work on surface stains and don't penetrate the teeth at all like tooth bleaching treatments do.

Other teeth whitening treatments that you can purchase over the counter includes whitening gels, whitening strips or tray-based teeth whiteners.  Gels are brushed directly on your teeth, usually twice a day for about two weeks.  Whitening strips are usually nothing more than strips coated with whitening gel.  The strips are meant to be worn on your teeth for about 30 minutes at a time, again usually twice a day for about two weeks.  Tray-based teeth whitening solutions have a bite-shaped tray that is filled with whitening gel.  Over-the-counter teeth whitening gels are normally peroxide based, but are not as concentrated as those used by your dentist.

For more serious discoloration or for more predictable results, you might want to consult with your dentist about teeth whitening solutions available at the professional level.  He may recommend an in-home treatment.  Usually this is a tray-based teeth whitening kit.  It has a couple of advantages over kits you can buy in a store.  The tray will be custom fitted to your mouth, the gel will probably be higher strength and the results will probably last longer.  This teeth whitening treatment will be significantly more expensive though.

Your dentist also may suggest an in-office tooth bleaching session.  He will apply a concentrated teeth whitening gel to your teeth, and in addition may include the use of a special light or laser.  Remarkable results can be achieved in an hour or two, and results can last for up to a year.  However, as you might expect, this is the most expensive option.

Although there is a full range of teeth whitening options available on today's market, there are still a few things that are under your control as well.  Good old-fashioned dental hygiene is a must.  Brush at least twice a day, floss once a day and see your dentist every six months.  You should also try to avoid the use of coffee, tea and tobacco.  But if your teeth have become discolored through no fault of your own, don't despair.  Depending on the current state of your teeth and your budget, it really is possible to have a smile like a movie star.