How to Whiten Teeth at Home
One of the best ways to give yourself a mini-makeover that will boost your confidence is to whiten your teeth. As you age, your teeth naturally darken and there isn’t any way to prevent this. Your best option is to determine how to whiten teeth at home. Of course, you could go to the dentist, but there are so many ways to whiten your teeth at home these days that a trip to the dentist isn’t needed to get great results.
The problem is that your teeth actually get stained a little bit each and every day. Over time, this very small discoloration builds up and you can visibly see that your teeth are darker than they were in the past. This happens because of tea, dark colored soda and many other things you eat and drink on a daily basis.
These stains get deep into the porous enamel of your teeth and your toothpaste doesn’t have the ability to remove those stains. Your regular toothpaste can keep your teeth clean and free of bacteria, etc, however it can’t fight off the staining that happens.
There are typically two different ways to whiten your teeth at home. You can use an over-the-counter whitening kit from your drugstore or use old-school natural methods.
Teeth Whitening Kits
These over-the-counter kits have become very popular over the last few years because of their low cost and the quality results they can give you. These OTC products are available in the form of strips, trays, brush on pastes and toothpastes.
The difference in these kits is the method that is used to get the whitening gel onto your teeth. The kits are all easy and safe to use, however you have to make sure to follow the instructions. You shouldn’t leave the gel substance on for longer than recommended (because it won’t improve your results) and you have to make sure all of your teeth get the right amount of contact with the gel. If you apply the gel incorrectly, some of your teeth may not whiten correctly.
Results
Most people see outstanding results with the strips, trays and brush on pastes, as long as the directions are followed. You can see results in as little as a few days. One of the big benefits is that you can control how white your teeth get. If you reach the point where you’re happy, you can stop the treatment.
Results for the whitening toothpastes aren’t as good. The problem with these is that the whitening solution isn’t in contact with the teeth for a long enough time to be effective. They can be effective as a maintenance plan, or they might work if you only need a low level of whitening. However, if you have deep stains, you will need something stronger.
Natural Products
You also may want to try some of the natural whitening products that you may already have in your home.
Baking Soda
Sometimes it seems as though baking soda is the answer for just about everything. It is a very powerful little power, and it has the ability to whiten your teeth too. All you have to do is mix it with a little water to make a paste and use your tooth brush to apply it to your teeth. Leave it on for a few minutes every morning and then brush your teeth as you normally would. It is best to do this twice per day until you are happy with the appearance of your teeth. Most people use this method for four to six weeks.
Strawberries
Using strawberries is another effective way to whiten your teeth. The fruit contains a natural whitener and the seeds also work effectively to scrub the stains away. You can either mash up the strawberry until the consistency is similar to that of a toothpaste or you can just rub the strawberry directly on your teeth. However, using the direct method will only allow you to whiten the teeth that can be easily accessed.
It is important to note that you shouldn’t just use anything that you hear about to whiten your teeth. For example, many people believe that lemons or lemon juice should be used to whiten your teeth. While these may make your teeth whiter, they can also cause sever damage and will lead to having “pits” in your teeth.
Summary
As you can see, there are many alternatives on how to whiten teeth at home. You don’t have to go to the dentist and spend hundreds of dollars.
If you want quick results and don’t mind paying a few dollars, you should consider the at-home whitening kits. If you are looking for the cheapest method and don’t mind waiting several weeks to see an improvement, you can look at the natural methods. Either way, you will save a great deal of money.