Options For Whitening Your Teeth
If your teeth are not as white as you would like them to be, you may already be taking precautions to try to prevent additional staining. Measures, such as rinsing your mouth with water after ingesting a dark-colored food or drink, can help dilute stains before they settle in the teeth. Additionally, chewing sugar-free gum after meals and snacks can have a similar effect, especially if the gum contains whitening agents, such as titanium dioxide or sodium bicarbonate.
Still, if the color of your teeth is darker than you prefer, the prevention of additional staining may not be enough to make you comfortable with the appearance of your smile. A whitening application may be needed.
Here are a few ways to whiten your teeth.
Chemical Bleaching
Chemical bleaches that are used to whiten the teeth typically contain a peroxide-based bleaching agent that helps to remove colorants that have become trapped in the pores of the teeth. Chemical bleaching is most appropriate for food-based discoloration and may require multiple applications to achieve the desired results.
Dental bleaching products can be acquired over the counter. However, products that can be readily purchased in a store are generally not as strong as their professional counterparts.
Bleaching applications that are performed in a dental office use products that are considered safe but are concentrated enough to produce rapid results. In fact, many dental patients notice a significant improvement in the color of their teeth after just one professional bleaching session. To intensify the whiteness produced by the professional products, a special ultraviolet light is sometimes applied to the product before it is removed from the teeth.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers can be applied to the teeth to hide or conceal the discoloration. The veneers look like natural teeth, but they can be shaped and colored to provide the desired cosmetic changes.
If the teeth are discolored, they are immediately transformed by the placement of veneers. The veneers, which are made of porcelain or resin, can be selected in a natural-looking white hue, or they can be produced with a sparkling white color that could not be achieved by natural teeth.
Since veneers conceal the discoloration of the teeth, the veneers are suitable, regardless of the source of the discoloration. Even permanently discolored teeth, such as those darkened by dental trauma, can be whitened with veneers.
If you suffer from dental discoloration, schedule an appointment with a dentist, such as Kyle J Frisinger DMD, in your local area.
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