How To Whiten Teeth

There are so many ways to whiten teeth, and it may be very difficult to choose the best option.  I want to urge you to read the article “What Causes Tooth Discoloration” as it is generally harder to treat intrinsic staining than extrinsic staining.  The second big factor is the cost of the treatment.

If you want to know how to whiten teeth, the  following options are available:

  • Professional teeth whitening. This is usually the most effective but unfortunately also the most expensive choice.  If you find that you teeth are a dark shade, even after a thorough professional clean, I would suggest that you get your teeth professionally bleached.  Bleaching can be done in the dentist’s office within a single appointment, or with the use of custom made bleaching trays and bleach to use at home.  Often a combination of both gets even better results.
  • Teeth whitening at home. If a person needs a more affordable option, this could be your answer!  Although some of the products still seem expensive, you may be able to get a very good result without having to pay your dentist as well.
  • Natural Teeth Whitening. A lot of people may feel more comfortable using more natural methods and products to whiten their teeth.  This will probably be the cheapest option. I do however want to caution people on the use of some of the natural whitening methods.  Natural doesn’t necessarily mean it is safe or healthy!  Some methods can be very abrasive (scratching away the tooth surface) or erosive (acidic agents damaging the enamel or exposed dentin).

How to Whiten Teeth with Specific Stained Areas

You may be satisfied with the general shade of your teeth but concerned about specific stained areas, typically due to tobacco, tee, coffee, wine or tatar build-up.  If that is the case, please to not  go for the usual bleaching treatments (professional or DIY bleaching) with Hydrogen peroxide or Carbamide peroxide (which breaks down into hydrogen peroxide) immediately.  Keep in mind that these products have risks, especially in high concentrations of which the most common problems are tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.  I would suggest the following:

Sonicare Toothbrush

Philips Sonicare Toothbrush

  • See an Oral hygienist or Dentist for a Scale and Polish. They use an ultrasonic instrument to remove the stubborn tatar and stains and then polish the teeth with an abrasive polishing paste to remove even more superficial staining.  If they see that your problem is due to discolored fillings, the fillings can be polished or replaced.  They may also find that a dark area is actually tooth decay which needs restoration.
  • Buy a good quality electric toothbrush to keep your teeth clean and stain free. Personally I like the sonic toothbrushes.  They move with very quick strokes, helping to clean in the hard to reach areas like between the teeth and along the gumline.  An example of such a toothbrush is a Philips Sonicare Toothbrush.  If used correctly it can remove up to 6 times more plaque than a manual toothbrush due to the sonic technology, with brush strokes up to 31000 per minute.
  • Use toothpaste that will help to keep your teeth and gums healthy and help to prevent the build-up of tatar. Some toothpastes also assist in removing stains.  Colgate TotalPlus Whitening Toothpaste is such a toothpaste.  It has a combination of triclosan for gingivitis protection and fluoride for cavity protection.   It has a breakthrough cleaning ingredient to whiten your teeth by gently removing surface stains.

    Tooth Stain Eraser

    Tooth Stain Eraser

  • Stubborn stains may need more persuasion to disappear or to stay away. Especially tobacco users may find this gadget helpful:  Staino S1655 Tooth Stain Eraser, 2tips/unit.  It’s sold by KleenTeeth or Amazon.  It is the same tooth stain removing rubber polishing tips that dentists have used for years.  You can safely remove surface stains with Staino’s dual-ended Tooth Stain Eraser.
  • If you still don’t have the results you were hoping for, try a Teeth Whitening Pen. The ‘pen’ contains whitening ingredients which you can easily apply in exactly the spots you want whitened.If you prefer something with natural ingredients and Peroxide free, try : Teeth Whitening Gel Pen By Emoyeni. It is made in the USA and they claim that it doesn’t just whiten teeth but also improves the health of your teeth and gums.  Plant based glycerine and natural products (no animal products) are used.It is EU Safety regulations approved and 100% Kosher Grade.  For quicker results, perhaps after only 2 days, you can try something like ‘Finishing Touch Smile Whitening Pen (.11 oz).I found this review regarding the Finishing Touch Smile Whitening Pen, by a customer on Amazon: By mommx3 on February 21, 2013:”This is easier to apply than any other whitening product I have ever tried. You just paint it on, and you can apply it between teeth for hard to reach areas (that the trays could never get to). My oldest daughter and I have both used it and after 3 applications, our teeth are already whiter. We have not had any sensitivity at all with this product. It tastes great and the best part is that it dries so fast that you can go about your day and never notice it after 30 seconds. You don’t ever have to rinse it out and it leaves no build up. It’s awesome. Now I can whiten my teeth anytime, anywhere. I got mine at Walgreens for $9.99. I will definitely stock up on this. Tip – make sure your teeth are dry before you apply it. Especially your bottom teeth (I spit really well and then swab inside my lower lip with a q-tip to make sure they are dry) . You should hold your lips open with your fingers so your teeth can dry for 30 seconds before closing your mouth. It works!”If you are still not satisfied with the results, bleaching your teeth is probably your next step.  How to whiten your teeth with bleaching agents will be explained in the articles to follow.  There is also very important information regarding teeth whitening in the articles;