A brilliant smile is a
great first impression. It’s no wonder that people try various procedures to
brighten their smile. New whitening toothpastes are invented regularly, each
one, promising more shine than the previous. Toothbrushes are designed using
the latest technology to give your teeth the best protection and a fine gleam.
There are ways to make your lips look plumper and softer. The number of ways
which people use to make their smile perfect is countless.
One of the first things
that people notice when someone smiles is their teeth. If you have dirty,
yellowed teeth, that impression will not be a good one. Luckily, dentistry has
come a long way and there are various ways to make sure that your teeth look
shiny, white and new all the time.
According to an
American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry survey, virtually all adults (99.7%)
believe a smile is an important social asset. 96% of adults believe an
attractive smile makes a person more appealing to members of the opposite sex.
Three-quarters (74%) of adults feel an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s
chance for career success.
What
are the causes of tooth discoloration?
Your teeth may get
discolored due to various reasons. For some people, it is genetic. It runs in
their families and however well they take care of their teeth, it gets
discolored sooner or later. It is also more prevalent among certain ethnic
groups. Some people are not aware that tooth care begins from infancy and don’t
teach their kids dental care. This leads to discoloration of the tooth. If you
have gum disease or other tooth problems, it could give rise to discolored
teeth.
Smoking, eating food
with a lot of food coloring, chewing tobacco and certain kinds of foods leave
stains on your teeth. Even if you have taken care of your teeth from a young
age, and do not have any vices, as you age, the color of your tooth will get
darker. White teeth make you look younger and that is one of the reasons that
as people age they try whitening their teeth to look more youthful.
Types
of Teeth Whitening
The two most popular
ways of whitening the teeth are the DIY way where you can get strips of whiteners
or a gel and use it on your teeth, at home, as directed by the instructions on
the product. This is actually often prescribed by dentists for younger people
whose teeth are not stained too badly. Regular home whitening is enough to keep
the teeth white.
But for older people,
dentists recommend a consultation with a dentist for teeth whitening. This is a
much more complicated and longer procedure but the result is worth it.
Teeth
Whitening by a dentist
Dentists will first
apply a gel or paste to protect the tooth enamel from damage. Then, a tray
where the whitening gel or liquid is poured is fixed to the teeth. The tray
with the gel will be left for a while and when removed your teeth will be many
shades whiter. It seems very simple but why this is better done at a dentist
than at home is that the protection of the enamel is important. The tray that
holds the whitening liquid should be fixed securely, because if the liquid
leaks and spills onto your gums, it may cause irritation and inflammation. It
is better to do this kind of whitening under dental supervision.
The results of dental tooth whitening can last for a couple of years with good dental care. A regular visit to the dentist should be enough to keep an eye on the general health of your teeth and gums.
