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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