How Do I Safely Achieve a Whiter Smile?

PHOENIX, AZ, August 19, 2010 (Press-News.org) Remember Ross Geller from "Friends" and his glow in-the-dark teeth? Everyone at some point feels the pressure to have pearly whites, but sometimes it can be taken too far. Excessive teeth whitening can lead to dental decay and cavities due to the enamel break down. Consider enamel to be a tooth's safeguard. It protects from cavities and helps to maintain healthy teeth. When that barrier gets broken the teeth become more susceptible to problems.
Some over-the-counter products are not as good as others and can speed up this process. When choosing a product, ask your dentist or pharmacist for suggestions with over the counter purchases. Crest White Strips are a really good product, and for those who only have mild to light staining it will show results without harming the teeth and gums when used as directed. The adhesive strip is placed on the upper and lower teeth as directed once daily for 30 minutes. Research shows you will see some results within 3 days and full results in 14 days.
For those who smoke or drink colas or coffee, their teeth may be more likely to become discolored faster or to a more extensive degree. In front of a mirror, if your teeth are darker in color than the whites of your eyes, you may benefit from your dentist's home bleaching kit or an in-office bleaching with your dentist.
The at home bleaching kit that the dentist would give you is a much higher concentration than the over-the-counter products, and therefore can give whiter results. Your dentist will fit you for specific trays that mold to your teeth. The bleach comes in a portable syringe that you squirt into the tray. Then, you insert the tray onto the teeth and leave the tray in place for about 30 minutes. This procedure can be repeated a couple times per week until the desired results are achieved. Dr. McCargar, of Scottsdale Dental Arts, a dentist in Scottsdale, Arizona says, "The most common complaint I hear from patients after using a prescription strength at-home bleaching kit is that their gums turn white." He explains if you use too much bleaching agent and it overflows out of the tray and onto the gums, then it will oxidize gum tissue which is the reason it can turn white. He says, "It is only temporary and goes away within a few hours."
The in-office bleaching is even stronger yet. This bleaching method is done during an appointment with the dentist. The bleaching gel is applied to your teeth for about 10-15 minutes and often a specific light is directed onto the bleaching gel to activate the bleaching process. The gel is then removed and reapplied up to four additional times until the desired results are achieved.
All methods can leave your teeth and gums feeling sensitive to hot and cold for several days afterwards and some maintenance is required to keep the teeth at your desired level of white. In moderation all the above methods are safe and effective. But, remember that if you are bleaching more than three times per week for several weeks that it can increase your risk of more dental problems, cavities, cracks, and decay. So, use these products only as directed.

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