"Hollywood smile": how to whiten teeth

Every girl wants to have a "Hollywood" smile, and this is not surprising, because the snow-white teeth look very aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, today various ways have become so popular. whitening, from home methods to professional dentistry.

Why do teeth turn yellow

First, let's figure out the reasons why our teeth lose their original appearance and begin to turn yellow:

• First of all, this applies to those who like to drink strong tea or coffee, since these drinks stain the tooth enamel brown.
• Eating foods with "coloring" pigments - raw carrots, beets, pomegranate and grape juices. In no case should you refuse them, just after that it is recommended to rinse your mouth with clean water.
• Those with a sweet tooth should pay double attention to their teeth, because from a large number of delicacies their protective layer becomes thinner, they begin to turn yellow, which subsequently leads to caries.
• Tobacco smoke from cigarettes or hookah literally "eats" into the teeth, giving them a yellow or even black tint. These changes are no longer amenable to the action of conventional toothpaste.
• Irregular brushing, using a poor quality toothbrush, ignoring floss and toothpicks all have a detrimental effect on their natural color and overall condition.
• Some medications provoke the appearance of yellowness, such as tetracycline.

Whiten teeth at home

There are many popular recipes that will help restore the whiteness of your teeth without resorting to expensive means and procedures.

Tea tree oil whitening

For this method, we need 100% natural oil, you can buy it at the pharmacy. It helps to get rid of yellow plaque well. After brushing your teeth with regular toothpaste, put 2 drops of oil on the brush and repeat brushing. Then rinse your mouth very carefully, as it can cause slight numbness of the tongue and gums.

Whitening with baking soda

Everything here is easy and simple - it is enough to brush your teeth with soda once a week, mixing it with toothpaste.

Or another option is to apply a soda slurry diluted with water on a cotton pad or a piece of gauze. Brush your teeth thoroughly and rinse your mouth.

Bleaching with hydrogen peroxide

The first step is to prepare a rinse liquid: dilute 20 drops of peroxide (3%) in 0.5 cups of warm water. After brushing your teeth, rinse your mouth with it. Then you need to dip a cotton swab in peroxide (not diluted) and process each tooth separately. Perform all steps very carefully to avoid burns. After that, rinse your mouth with water and brush your teeth again.

The course of such whitening can be carried out no more than 3 times, because as a result of contact with hydrogen peroxide, the sensitivity of the teeth and gums increases.

Whitening with lemon

Lemon juice helps to effectively remove stains from tooth enamel. You can simply brush your teeth and then wipe them with a lemon wedge or make a whitening composition:

• Mix the juice and 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda. Wipe saliva off your teeth with a tissue and apply it with a brush. Wait 1 minute (no more) and rinse with water.

Teeth whitening strips

You can independently remove ugly plaque from tooth enamel with the help of special whitening strips.

The yellowness disappears under the action of a gel with hydrogen peroxide, which is applied to them. These strips are very convenient to use due to the fact that they are very thin and elastic. It is recommended to apply them to the teeth 1-2 times a day for 30 minutes. After the procedure, you just need to rinse your mouth with water.

The effect lasts for several months or more, depending on the manufacturer of this product. The more expensive ones get better results. They are usually sold in pharmacies or online stores.

Teeth whitening trays

Mouth guards are called special pads on the teeth. A special bleaching gel or paste is poured into them, which include hydrogen peroxide and carbamide pyroxide. It is better to select the ratio of each component individually according to the recommendations of the dentist, since all people have different tooth sensitivity.

The advantages of this method are the relatively inexpensive cost and the ability to use them at home. Sometimes they can be used at night while you sleep, for this the most gentle composition is selected.

Cons: the need to wear a mouthguard for a long time - some must remain on the teeth for up to 5 hours. And after removing it, you need to refrain from food and coloring drinks for at least 2 hours.

Today you can find three types of caps:

• Standard - launched into mass production, their sizes are universal and they are the cheapest in terms of price.
• Thermoplastic - they soften under a stream of warm water and conform to the shape of your teeth.
• Individual - made to order in a dental clinic, taking into account all the features of the patient's jaw structure.

Teeth whitening system

Currently, various systems are becoming very popular that will help your teeth acquire the desired whiteness.

The most widespread and budgetary whitening system "White Light", where the kit includes:

• gel;
• mouth guard;
• special device with a lamp.

The principle of operation is as follows: the lamp delivers a light beam of a certain wave, due to which the action of the gel is activated.

This procedure should be carried out for 10 minutes a day. The manufacturer claims that it has no side effects and contraindications, and the effect will be noticeable after 5 days.

Teeth whitening at the dentist

This method is the most expensive, but the most effective and safe, as it is carried out strictly under the supervision of a specialist.

Usually this procedure is painless, but all people have different sensitivity of the teeth, so some discomfort can still occur.

Professional whitening has a number of contraindications:

• diseases of the oral cavity, bleeding gums, caries, tartar;
• individual intolerance to drugs;
• pregnancy and lactation.

Everything happens as follows: the doctor applies a special composition to your teeth, and then acts on them with a photopolymer lamp or laser. Usually 1-3 sessions are sufficient.

After you need to observe the "colorless" diet at least 2 weeks.

The result can last from 6 months to 3 years, depending on the individual characteristics of your tooth enamel.

Teeth whitening - harm

As you know, there are no special medical indications for this procedure. Whitening has a purely aesthetic function. And if traditional methods are quite harmless, then professional ones have some not very pleasant consequences:

• Demineralization of tooth enamel is possible, that is, in the process, the beneficial minerals contained in it are destroyed. In this case, you will have to additionally carry out their restoration.
• Over time, teeth lose their shine and become dull.
• Their sensitivity can increase significantly. Even simple brushing will be uncomfortable, not to mention hot and cold food.

Teeth whitening - reviews

To whiten teeth or not, and which method to choose for this is everyone's personal business. There is no unequivocal opinion about this procedure. Some are very satisfied with the results of home methods, someone buys whitening systems at their own risk, others trust only professionals. But most importantly, before using any of them, you need to consult with your dentist. Indeed, in the pursuit of beauty, you should not forget about your health.