3 Easy Ways to Whiten Your Teeth

posted by Dr. Beau Beecher, DDS on 10/20/2022 in General

If your teeth look dull or discolored it might be time to consider teeth whitening. But with countless ads championing their toothpaste and at-home whitening kits, how do you know which is the best and fastest option to help you get a beautiful, pearly-white smile? In this article we’ll explore three popular whitening options and why they could be a good choice for you.   

What is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening is the process of removing stains and discoloration from your teeth with special bleaching agents. These safe-to-use bleaches break down stains on your teeth, eliminating the dull, yellowish color, helping your teeth be brighter. 

Why Do Teeth Change Color?

Before diving into whitening solutions, it’s important to understand why your teeth may change color. The most common culprit is food. Some of the worst foods for your teeth such as coffee, wine, and tea have strong color pigments that stain your tooth enamel giving it an undesired color.

If you smoke cigarettes or use tobacco, the nicotine and tar chemicals in these products are known to turn teeth yellow. Additional reasons for discoloration include medication side-effects, injury, and age. Regardless of why your teeth have lost their shine, there are many solutions to help whiten your teeth.

3 Easy Ways to Whiten Your Teeth

There are many different ways you can choose to whiten your teeth. Here are three popular options to give your teeth a pearly, white sheen. 

Toothpaste

Good oral hygiene is an important part of keeping your teeth white. Brush your teeth with a toothpaste that has a polishing agent which removes stains from your teeth. The ADA Seal of Acceptance for stain removal is printed on these toothpastes’ packages, so you know they are safe to use and effective. However, these toothpastes’ whitening capabilities are not as strong as other techniques, and your teeth may still have a dull look even after regularly using whitening toothpaste. 

Over-the-Counter Whiteners

Over-the-counter whiteners you can buy at your local store or pharmacy are an easy and quick way to whiten your teeth. Options include strips, trays, and kits from popular dental brands like Crest and Colgate. These products have a mild bleaching agent that is stronger than the average toothpaste whitener. Each product is different, but usually require 14-20 days of daily use to see results. 

Professional Services

Although toothpaste and OTC kits are a good way to whiten teeth, nothing can replace the professional whitening service your dentist provides. Your dentist’s whitening methods will have stronger, longer-lasting results. Kimball & Beecher Family Dentistry provides our patients with two in-home whitening options:

Pola Luminate

Pola Luminate brush-on tooth whitening system is a pleasantly flavored, 6% hydrogen peroxide whitening solution. This method is designed to easily brush directly onto teeth to form a thin whitening film without the need of trays. This option is perfect for our busy, on-the-go patients.

Whitening for Life Program 

Kimball & Beecher’s Whitening for Life Program provides patients at the time of enrollment with custom trays and two tubes of 9.5% whitening gel. At each six month preventive care appointment, you will receive one free refill of 9.5% whitening gel. Additional tubes of whitening gel may be purchased.

Schedule an Appointment

We love when our patients can flash their pearly whites with confidence. Don’t let stains and discoloration hold you back from sharing your smile with the world. Schedule an appointment with a Kimball & Beecher dentist today.