Foods, beverages, and genetics all play a role in the color of a person’s teeth. Teeth staining agents, like coffee and red wine, create a layer of film on top of the dental enamel which slowly seeps into the pores of the teeth. Over time, these become more and more noticeable—especially when a person doesn’t attend regular dental cleanings. These long-left stains eventually require a teeth whitening agent to restore the smile back to brilliance.

Many people opt for an at-home, store-bought whitening kit to try and brighten their smile, and sometimes, they achieve wonderful results!

If you’re ready to try an at-home teeth whitening method, here are five tips from our dentist to help you achieve a brighter smile:

1.    Visit your dentist for a dental cleaning and exam.

It’s best to start with a clean slate before whitening your teeth. During a dental exam, a dental hygienist thoroughly and gently cleans the teeth by removing plaque and tartar from all surfaces, including the gum line. You can’t achieve this kind of clean at home!

The dental exam portion of the visit ensures that the teeth and gums are healthy enough to endure the whitening process. If any sign of decay or gum disease exists, that issue should be addressed before bleaching your teeth.

2.    Ask for advice.

Be sure to also ask your dentist for advice on how to achieve a brighter smile at home. She can give you personalized tips as well as more in-depth instructions on how to handle certain whitening products.

She may also talk to you about the differences between store-bought whitening kits, professional take-home whitening kits, and in-office whitening. To learn more about those differences right now, check out this blog.

1.    Read reviews of the product.

Store-bought teeth whitening kits exist in various forms, including:

• Toothpaste
• Mouthwash
• Whitening pens
• Whitening strips
• One-size-fits-all trays

Before going to the store, research different products, find which one seems best for your smile, and read the reviews of the product. Some whitening kits work well for some people but not so great for others. You’ll also want to make sure that the product doesn’t have a reputation for causing dangerous side-effects.

2.    Follow the directions.

Once you’ve chosen a safe whitening treatment, be sure to follow the directions exactly. It’s easy to become lackadaisical with the product but remember that these contain strong bleaching agents that can be harmful to the soft tissues in and around the mouth.

3.    Don’t expect immediate results.

With at-home whitening kits, it’s easy to get overly excited about the outcomes. However, most people don’t experience immediate results. In fact, it may take weeks or months to actually notice a difference in your smile. Consistency and determination are key to achieving a bright, beautiful smile at home!

Looking for immediate results? Professional, in-office teeth whitening is the way to go! Patients walk into the dentist’s office with a dull, yellow smile and out with a bright, white one. While these treatments are more expensive, they certainly are worth it. All it takes is a trip to the dentist and about an hour of your time.

Teeth Whitening in Grant Park

Dr. Abbey Lee at Smiles for Grant Park is prepared to help you achieve a radiant smile through professional teeth whitening. She uses Opalescence Boost, a product that can brighten almost any smile up to ten shades. 

To learn more about this whitening system or to schedule an initial consultation, call (404) 328-7177 today.