Contents
1. Why do teeth become discoloured?
1.1 Food and drink
1.2 Smoking
1.3 Poor dental hygiene
1.4 Disease
2. Teeth Whitening Methods
2.1 Take-home whitening kits
2.2 But what are the advantages of take-home whitening kits?
2.3 Visiting a dentist for an in-chair whitening treatment
3. How to Whiten your Teeth at Home
3.1 Activated charcoal
3.2 Baking soda
3.3 Coconut oil
3.4 Whitening gel
4. What is the best way to whiten teeth?
5. Book a consultation and get professional cosmetic treatment
Your smile is one of your best assets. Having a healthy and happy smile can improve your self-confidence, increase self-esteem, and even influence the way you interact.
Today, there are a whole host of cosmetic dentistry treatments that can improve and enhance your smile, allowing you to achieve the perfect smile. One of the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatments is teeth whitening – helping you to achieve a bright, white smile that you’re proud to show off!
Within this article, we take a look at in-chair vs take-home whitening kits.
Why do teeth become discoloured?
Teeth become discoloured for a wide range of different reasons. As you age this can become more noticeable as the outer layer of enamel on your teeth gets worn away, exposing the yellow dentin beneath.
Food and drink
Certain foods and drinks can cause discolouration in your teeth. Some of the main culprits include coffee, wine, tea, coca-cola, curry, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and tomato-based sauces, to name but a few.
Smoking
We all know the negative impact that smoking can have on our bodies and overall health. But did you know it is also one of the leading courses of tooth discolouration?
Poor dental hygiene
To maintain a healthy, happy, and white smile, it’s important that you brush, floss, and rinse your mouth thoroughly, twice a day.
Disease
Some diseases can also cause tooth discolouration and affect the enamel on the teeth. With this in mind, if you suspect there is an underlying cause of your tooth discolouration, you should consult your dentist as quickly as possible.
Teeth Whitening Methods
A number of different teeth whitening methods can be used to treat discolouration and create a brighter, whiter smile, including take-home whitening kits and visiting a dentist for treatment in a chair.
Take-home whitening kits
Over recent years, take-home whitening kits have become increasingly popular, allowing patients to achieve a bright, white smile from the comfort of their own homes.
But what are the advantages of take-home whitening kits?
One of the main benefits of this type of treatment is that they are incredibly affordable, and convenient and, providing you choose a safe and professional product, you can achieve fantastic results.
However, when choosing a home whitening kit, make sure you seek advice from your dentist to get the best possible results.
Visiting a dentist for an in-chair whitening treatment
One of the main advantages of in-chair whitening treatments with your dentist is that you can enjoy professional teeth whitening results without compromising your dental health.
In-chair whitening treatments will also allow your dentist to colour-match your teeth, so an even colour is achieved.
Of course, in-chair treatments also provide the perfect opportunity for your dentist to give you a thorough check-up before going ahead with the treatment. This is important as any cracks, tooth decay, and gum diseases can have an impact on the results you achieve.
How to Whiten your Teeth at Home?
There’s lots of ways to achieve a brighter and whiter smile at home using a number of incredibly accessible teeth whitening solutions.
We’ve taken a look at some of them.
Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal is a black powder made out of burned material and when put into toothpaste, it is now commonly used to enhance the look of your teeth.
Helping you to achieve a brighter smile, activated charcoal is made of fine, abrasive grains, which lift the stains off the teeth. One of the downsides of activated charcoal is that it can be abrasive, cutting through plaque and causing the enamel on your teeth to wear down.
Enamel can’t be replaced, meaning your teeth will become vulnerable to cavities and sensitivity.
Baking soda
When baking soda is mixed with water or toothpaste, it can used to remove stains on the surface of the teeth. In fact, it’s not uncommon to find it in a number of commercial teeth whitening products and toothpastes.
One of the main benefits of using baking soda is that it is more cost effective than other teeth whitening products. However, again, you must be aware that it can also remove plaque which can cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Coconut oil
Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence to support the use of coconut oil when whitening teeth. Therefore, it should not be used in case it causes potential harm to your teeth.
Whitening gel
Teeth whitening gels are incredibly popular. Designed to make your teeth appear a lot lighter and brighter, they contain bleaching ingredients which are safe for most teeth. There’s lots of over the counter teeth whitening gels to choose from, and your dentist will also be able to provide guidance on the right teeth whitening gel for you, especially when it comes to the strength of the gel.
What is the best way to whiten teeth?
The safest and most effective way to whiten your teeth is to visit your dentist so that they can oversee all aspects of the procedure.
Any dentist can whiten teeth as long as they’re registered with the General Dental Council. There are far fewer risks associated with this way of whitening.
Some home kits that aren’t bought through a professional dentist don’t contain the right levels of whitening product, impacting the results you get from the treatment. If you are using a tray that has not been measured correctly, it can also leak onto your gums causing blistering and sensitivity. So it’s vital that, whichever whitening method you choose, you consult your dentist and only use the products they supply.
Talk to our dentists for a consultation about ways to get whiter teeth in Wigan!
Book a consultation and get professional cosmetic treatment
Take the first step in reclaiming your confidence and improving your smile at the same time!
Contact us today to arrange a consultation with a friendly member of our experienced team – we are always on hand to answer any of your questions.
