Although teeth whitening might improve both your smile and your self esteem, there are many other things you should do to keep your smile good looking and healthy. Let’s talk about some things we can do to keep out teeth from major dental repair.

It is important to understand how food, drinks, and tobacco affect your teeth. Here’s a rule of thumb to keep in mind- if its not good for the rest of your body, its probably not good for your teeth either.

Sugary drinks are one example that fit right into that category. The sugar from a soda or bottle of juice will stick to your teeth and can cause cavities. A better option is to drink water.

It’s natural and won’t damage your teeth at all. It can even act as floss when eating or drinking those things with lots of sugar. After a bite of a Twinkie, take a swig of water to immediately wipe that sugar off your teeth. Many cities even add fluoride to their water so drinking tap water can be especially beneficial to your mouth.

Using a straw to drink these types of sugary sodas and juices will also help the sugar avoid your teeth and go straight to your stomach. Consider avoiding those beverages with sugar in them completely. Remember that most red wines will also stain your teeth as well.

You can also use fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash to keep your teeth healthy and clean. Fluoride is a major key to avoiding cavities altogether and just a small amount each day will help ward them off.

Another tip, although it may be obvious, is to brush and floss. Dentists encourage brushing for one minute twice a day with a toothpaste that has fluoride in it. When it comes to flossing, most people forget the teeth in the back of the mouth, which can be the most important to floss.

Many people don’t know and understand the basics of brushing and flossing. When you visit your dentist every six months, ask for a short lesson on brushing and flossing. Their simple advice can help a lot in the long run.

As mentioned above, you should be seeing your professional dentist every six months, for a check up and cleaning. Having the plaque removed every six months will keep your teeth shiny and more importantly healthy. Keeping up on your dental work will help you avoid tooth aches and other disasters that happen when you avoid the dentist.

Although most people don’t realize it, your toothbrush can play a major role in the overall health of your teeth. Replace your brush every three months for the best results.

There are more options to teeth bleaching today than ever. The chemicals and prices vary in huge differences and it might be hard to know which is the best teeth whitening option for you.

Let’s first discuss the major active ingredient in teeth bleaching and whitening. The bleaching agent is called hydrogen peroxide, also known as carbamide peroxide. When using an over the counter product, the percentage of hydrogen peroxide percentage is around  three percent.

The ingredient is active, just not at major intensity. Whitening your teeth with an over the counter procedure will take longer to see noticeable results. This procedure must be repeated much more often to keep the result of pearly whites.

The cost is generally affordable for all and can range anywhere from ten dollars to one hundred dollars. The cost of having your teeth whitened by a dentist office are much more, but there is good reason.

Where your over the counter teeth whiteners only have about three percent hydrogen peroxide, you dentist can use a more concentrated edition with closer to thirty to forty percent. The results are much different as well.

With teeth bleaching performed by a dentist, the results will start to show in around an hour, much different than two weeks. This procedure will only need to be repeated every couple of years, depending on the teeth staining foods you eat.

There is another option that falls right in the middle of the first two described. By visiting your dentist, they can have a mold made of your teeth. A mouthpiece will be created to fit your mouth almost perfectly.

Once your mouthpiece is ready, the dentist will send the bleaching gel home with you to use in your mouthpiece on you own time and in the comfort of your own home. The bleaching solution is not as strong as your dentist would use in his office, but much stronger than an over the counter box can provide.

This cost is also right in the middle of the other two. With the choices available through your dentist and over the counter, you should be able to find a bleaching solution for your white teeth needs.

Evaluate the difference in time of application and results, cost of results and re-application and also the amount of chemicals being used in each procedure. There may be one that will feel more comfortable to you. It may be that you want small results for a small price, or immediate long lasting results for a higher end price.

Consider all of your options before beginning any teeth whitening procedure. Remember that the pain is minimal and much different from many other dental procedures. A fear of the dentist should not hold those hoping to have white teeth from contacting their dentish about teeth bleaching.

Let’s begin by talking about how your teeth accumulate stains or discoloration. Stains come from many different sources, including food, beverages, and especially smoking. These stains are in your enamel or dentin, and block light from your teeth. When your teeth are bleached or whitened, the dentin is cleansed from stains built up over time.

This allows the light to pass through to your teeth. The light is what keeps your teeth white and clean-looking. In order to bleach or whiten your teeth, a bleaching gel must be applied to the outer part of your teeth.

This gel is generally hydrogen peroxide that will break down into oxygen molecules, which will clean the stains from the enamel and dentin. As more light passes through the tooth, it will appear lighter colored.

Some teeth stains are easier to remove than others. Stains can become embedded in the tooth, and therefore they are harder to remove by simply bleaching or whitening.

Depending on the length and intensity of your teeth whitening treatment, you could begin seeing results in as little as one hour. There are different types of treatments and they all take different amounts of time and have individual results.

Your dentist can perform two procedures in the office and there are other take home procedures that work well too. Consult with your dentist before beginning any bleaching procedure.

Many patients choose to have laser bleaching performed. This is where your gums and lips are protected from the bleaching agent, and after being applied to your teeth, a bright light is placed in front of your mouth.

This light activates the ingredients in the bleaching gel and gets the whitening process started. This type of treatment will last about an hour or so, and may need to be repeated over time. The results will last up to three years.

If you choose to whiten your own teeth at home, you dentist will have you come in and will get a mold of your teeth. Once the mouthpiece is ready, you can take it home for you.

By inserting the bleaching solution in the mouthpiece and then placing it in your mouth, the gel is applied to your teeth, similar to an in office treatment. This treatment is not as strong as those performed in the office and will take multiple applications for the process to show noticeable results.

Most patients are pleased with their teeth bleaching results. It is advised to avoid red wine, tobacco, and other staining foods after having the procedure performed. The results will last anywhere from one to three years, depending on the number of teeth staining foods that are consumed.

Other habits, such as brushing and flossing, can also help teeth keep their white shine. Consider the cost, results, and educate yourself about teeth whitening before starting the procedure.