Brightening
Up That Smile
Ask any bride-to-be if she’d like an eye-popping smile
on her wedding day, and she’ll probably say ”of
course.” Tooth whitening is a safe, simple way to get
that gleaming grin.
Ask any bride-to-be if she’d like an eye-popping smile
on her wedding day, and she’ll probably say ”of
course.” Tooth whitening, also known as bleaching, is
a safe, simple way to get one.
It isn’t really anything new. For years, dentists have
used a peroxide solution to remove stains from tooth enamel;
the only drawback was the price tag. But with today’s
array of treatment choices, you don’t have to spend a
bundle to get the perfect smile.
Why teeth get dull
Over the years, your teeth yellow or discolor for several reasons—and
no, it’s not because you didn’t brush enough. Plain
old age can yellow them, and overuse of some medications, such
as tetracycline, may cause your pearly whites to turn gray.
Other causes? Smoking (just one more reason to stop, if you
already haven’t) is one, and drinking too much coffee,
tea, cola or red wine will get you as well.
Brightening up
On Your Own
The cheapest way to rev up your smile is to use an over-the-counter
product, such as a whitening tooth paste, which removes that
protein film that food likes to cling to. Another option is
an at-home whitening kit that contains a mild bleaching gel.
One new type of bleaching kit is Crest Whitestrips, which
are supposed to be easier to use than the older kits. Instead
of filling goop in a mouthpiece the old way, these kits contain
bleach-saturated strips that, according to the manufacturer,
work on stains beneath the surface of the teeth. Over-the-counter
whiteners, such as Crest Whitestrips, cost around 20 for a
two-week supply.
With a Pro’s Help
Besides over-the counter products, there are also two professional
methods that you would get from your dentist.
Bleach in a mouthpiece
The first is part in-office, part at-home. Your dentist custom
crafts a mouthpiece for you, and trims it to fit your teeth
and cover your gums. He sends you home with the mouthpiece
and a kit containing a professional bleaching solution. You
fill the mouthpiece with the solution and place it over your
teeth and usually wearing it twice a day for an hour each
time for two weeks. (Sorry, no eating or drinking while you’re
wearing the mouthpiece.) At the end of the two weeks you go
back to the dentist to check your progress. You may find that
you still need further treatment. If so, your dentist will
either suggest a complete in-office treatment of try the at-home
thing one more time. Usually, most people see significant
results after a week or two. At-home professional treatments
range from 100 to 500 per kit (including the mouthpiece).
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