When you smile, you might see that your teeth are not the pearly white color like you see in magazines and on television. As you get older, a little of the enamel erodes from the surface of your teeth, causing the yellowish dentin to be more visible. Fortunately, your dentist has several ways to whiten your teeth. The best method for teeth whitening depends on your situation.
In-office Whitening
In-office whitening is generally regarded to be the safest and best method for teeth whitening. Your dentist makes customized molds of your teeth. The molds are used to produce trays. A gel containing a special type of peroxide is poured into the trays. You will relax in the treatment area while the gel works to remove stains from your teeth. A treatment session takes about 60 minutes, and you may need up to six sessions in order to achieve maximum whiteness.
At-home Whitening
How to Maintain White Teeth
Once you have whitened your teeth either through an at-home treatment or treatments in the dentist’s office, it is important to maintain white teeth. The dentist may offer some recommendations about whitening toothpastes or mouth rinses that help to lift stains off of your teeth after you eat or drink. These products are available by prescription through the dentist and over-the-counter at grocery stores and pharmacies.
Another way to maintain white teeth is to make a few changes in what you eat and drink. Dark foods and beverages such as red cabbage, chocolate, beets, red wine, tea and coffee have tannins that stain the enamel of your teeth. Cutting down or eliminating these foods and drinks from your diet will help to keep your teeth whiter. Avoiding smoking will also help to keep your teeth white.