Tooth discoloration has become a rampant problem in recent times, mostly due to our attraction to stain-inducing foods and beverages. Take coffee for instance. This is something most of us consume on a daily basis without thought of what it may be doing to our teeth. The only effect we’re concerned about is whether or not it’ll be able to wake us up for the long day ahead. Tooth staining doesn’t stop with coffee. Activities like smoking can compound the problem, further yellowing your teeth. When most people get fed up with seeing their yellow hue of a smile everyday, they begin to consider professional whitening treatments. These procedures make use of carbamide peroxide, which bleaches the teeth for an extended period of time. During a whitening treatment, a mouthguard is prepared with this carbamide peroxide and applied to your teeth. A light may be used to activate the gel so it can begin working. Many cosmetic dentists will rotate through several mouthguards during the hour long treatment so your teeth can become several shades whiter. Although this is the most ideal way to go about whitening your teeth, it can cost you $500 or more. Some might even seek more drastic forms of treatment like Lumineers dental veneers, which can cost over $1,000 per tooth. Most of us can’t justify spending this type of money, so naturally, we explore the alternatives.
One of the easiest ways to fight tooth discoloration is to incorporate baking soda into your oral hygiene regimen. Baking soda is an abrasive that can help remove some of the plaque that has accumulated on your teeth over time, albeit at a slow pace. It may take a few months before you see any noticeable change in tooth shade. Being overly aggressive with the baking soda won’t expedite the whitening effects and could damage your teeth, so it’s best to take it slow. You can apply a small amount of baking soda to your toothbrush once you have finished brushing your teeth and work it in using a circular motion. You can then rinse your mouth using some water. While other home treatments calling for the use of strawberries and such have been rumored to work, its generally not a good idea to experiment with things that can disrupt the acidity level within your mouth. It may lead to a depletion of tooth enamel, leaving you susceptible to tooth decay.
There are a significant number of tooth whitening kits available that can help you obtain some decent results. These use the same ingredients you would find in a dentist’s office at lower concentrations. The concept is the same – you apply the whitening gel to a mouthpiece and allow it to penetrate your teeth for half an hour or more (depending on the documentation provided with your product). These products may take several weeks to months before reaching maximum effect, so give the process time. If you’ve exhausted your options as far as at-home whitening is concerned, it may be worth investing several hundred dollars towards an in-office treatment that can last a year ore more with proper upkeep. If you have a more chronic case of discoloration, consider talking to a cosmetic dentist about dental veneers. You can secure financing for Lumineers and other popular restorations to help pay for your procedure.