Human beings have an innate attraction to great smiles. For some reason our love for great smiles is wired in our brains right from birth. It is not just the look of it, but we also tend to associate a beautiful smile with a measure of trust, and as such a smiling person is considered more friendly approachable.

As you can appreciate, a great smile is a great asset to have hence the enduring popularity of teeth whitening in the world of cosmetic dentistry.

To further understand how popular teeth whitening is, consider this: there are numerous teeth whitening methods in existence for people to choose from. However, the great variety of these teeth whitening methods does not deter dentists and scientists to search for new methods, which is indicative of an insatiable appetite for the best whitening methods.

Herein we are going to explore teeth whitening methods in an effort to acquaint you with the various options that you have.

#1. Whitening Toothpaste

Ideally, toothpaste should contain a mild abrasive that polishes and removes stains from your teeth. That is why it is recommended to brush after every meal if you fancy having white teeth. However, there is a special whitening toothpaste that contains chemicals specially designed to whiten your teeth. They usually include hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide that lightens teeth color.

#2. Whitening Gels And Strips

The use of whitening strips and whitening gels has proved to be the most effective and popular teeth whitening methods. For starters, these methods are quite cost-effective. They are also quite easy to use while at the same time they are still whitening methods effective in the long run.

For the whitening strips, these are thin strips that are coated with peroxide-based whitening chemicals. As for the gel, they are also peroxide-based clear gels that are applied to your teeth using a toothbrush. However, to attain positive results, users should follow instructions to the letter.

#3. Tray-Based Teeth Whitening Systems

This method is increasingly becoming popular as you can purchase it from your dentist or over-the-counter. The system consists of a guard-like tray that is filled with a peroxide-based bleaching agent. The guard is worn for a given time for the teeth whitening process to take place, such as one or two hours.

#4. In-Office Whitening Methods

The in-office teeth whitening methods are whitening methods that are offered within the dentistry environment. Thus, these methods are pegged to the professional services of dentists. However, they are considered as the most effective methods, owing to the fact that dramatic changes are visible even after one session that may last anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes.

Dentists usually use a specially formulated bleaching agent with or without heat, laser, or special light to achieve the desired results. However, for total transformation, several treatment sessions may be necessary.

There are other home remedies for teeth whitening purposes including coconut oil pooling, rinsing one’s mouth with apple cider vinegar, and much more that you can opt to use. However, the effectiveness of such methods is up for debate. For the most part, there is no in-depth analysis and research on how well such methods work.

While understanding how you can whiten your teeth is important for a great smile, it is more crucial to understand what causes your teeth to attain the infamous yellow or brown stain. This understanding will go a long way in helping you negate the possibility of your teeth turning yellow once again after you have carried out a whitening procedure. Some of the causes of staining teeth include:

– Smoking and drinking coffee and tea,
– Intake of excess fluoride,
– Age factors,
– Poor diets, and
– Consumption of antibiotics.

While some of these factors are certainly unavoidable, those that we can avoid should be avoided at all cost for a great permanent white smile.