Current:Home > BackThere are countless options for whitening your teeth. Here’s where to start.-LoTradeCoin
There are countless options for whitening your teeth. Here’s where to start.
View Date:2024-12-23 17:02:56
If you want to whiten your teeth, you may feel overwhelmed when it comes to figuring out where to start. Countless products promising brighter teeth line grocery store shelves. Heck, there are even numerous versions of Crest Whitestrips to choose from. It’s a lot.
Research studies have explored the connection between tooth color and perceived attractiveness, age, and other social judgments. Understandably, you might want to whiten your teeth. To determine what you need to know about this treatment, we talked to Dr. Tricia Quartey, dentist and CEO of Noble Dental Care in Brooklyn, New York, and a spokesperson for the American Dental Association.
Is it OK to whiten my teeth?
Not everyone should whiten their teeth. According to Quartey, people who have cavities, active infections, and areas of gum recession can experience issues like severe irritation and increased sensitivity if they whiten their teeth. Also, certain tooth colors and stains may not be responsive to whitening and need a different treatment. You also want to get a cleaning before whitening your teeth to remove stained plaque and tartar. For these reasons, Quartey recommends you see a dentist first. If your dentist clears you, then you are safe to whiten your teeth.
How to whiten my teeth
There are two ways to go about whitening. You can either get a professional treatment at your dentist’s office or try an at-home product. According to Healthline, in-office whitening uses higher concentrations of bleaching agents for quicker results compared to over-the-counter products. The downside is that these sessions can be expensive and may not be covered by insurance.
If you choose to whiten your teeth at home, Quartey has a couple of recommendations. She suggests looking for products with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. These products have been submitted to the American Dental Association for approval concerning safety and efficacy. She also emphasizes looking for products whose active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. These will bleach your teeth from the inside out rather than only remove superficial stains. Whitening strips and gels are more likely to have these active ingredients compared to toothpaste and mouthwash.
Not all products are good for your teeth. Stay away from charcoal or even some baking soda products. According to Quartey, these ingredients are too abrasive. “Yes, your tooth immediately looks whiter, but it’s really because it’s stripping off a part of your enamel,” she says. “And that, of course, is not safe.” Enamel loss will make your teeth sensitive, more susceptible to cavities and, in the long run, even yellower as the inside of your tooth is exposed.
More:As charcoal remedies rise in popularity, questions about its safety, effectiveness
How do I whiten my teeth permanently?
There is no whitening treatment that will give you permanent results. According to Quartey, it’s possible to see results for a few years with a professional treatment. This is much longer than at-home products like whitening strips, which can last for up to six months, according to Healthline. Other options like veneers and crowns can give you longer-lasting results, but these items may still need maintenance.
The best thing you can do to keep your teeth white? “Oral hygiene,” says Quartey. “Brushing twice a day … and cleaning between your teeth once a day. Because a lot of what people see is plaque and tartar that has been stained.”
More:How you treat dry skin can also prevent it. Here’s how to do both.
veryGood! (42)
Related
- Tony Hinchcliffe refuses to apologize after calling Puerto Rico 'garbage' at Trump rally
- Atiana De La Hoya Details Childhood Estrangement From Dad Oscar De La Hoya in Documentary
- 1 dead, 'multiple' people shot at party in Muncie, Indiana
- Kylie Jenner Admits She Had a Boob Job at 19
- Cold case arrest: Florida man being held in decades-old Massachusetts double murder
- Hundreds of weapons found as investigators end search of Gilgo Beach murder suspect's home
- This dinosaur last walked the earth 150 million years ago. Scientists unearthed it in Thailand.
- FACT FOCUS: No head trauma or suspicious circumstances in drowning of Obamas’ chef, police say
- As US Catholic bishops meet, Trump looms over their work on abortion and immigration
- As e-bikes proliferate, so do deadly fires blamed on exploding lithium-ion batteries
Ranking
- PSA: Coach Outlet Has Stocking Stuffers, Gifts Under $100 & More for the Holidays RN (up to 60% Off)
- MLB commissioner Rob Manfred receives four-year extension into 2029
- Sinéad O’Connor Dead at 56
- LaKeith Stanfield Shares He Privately Married Kasmere Trice and Welcomed Baby
- LSU leads college football Week 11 Misery Index after College Football Playoff hopes go bust
- 2 chimpanzees who escaped from Colombia zoo killed by police
- Are you a Facebook user? You have one month left to apply for a share of this $725M settlement
- 3 people whose partly mummified bodies were found at remote campsite planned to live off the grid, family says
Recommendation
-
South Carolina lab recaptures 5 more escaped monkeys but 13 are still loose
-
MBA 3: Accounting and the Last Supper
-
Kevin Spacey acquitted of all 9 sexual assault charges by jury in UK trial
-
Judge blocks Biden rule limiting access to asylum, Emmett Till honored: 5 Things podcast
-
Amtrak service disrupted after fire near tracks in New York City
-
Panthers officially name No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young their starting quarterback
-
This weather-related reason is why more people are dying at national parks
-
'I just prayed': Oxford school shooting victim testifies about classmates being shot