White Teeth

When worrying about our personal appearance, white teeth seems to be at the top of the list. The procedures for whiter teeth are one of the most sought after cosmetic procedures. When we watch television or go see a movie we can´t help but admire the white teeth of the actors and actresses on screen. How to whiten teeth? Many people ask themselves this question when they look in the mirror and see a smile with yellow teeth.

White Teeth

First of all it´s important to take into account that most "Hollywood Smiles" are not the result of whitening procedures, but of porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are wafer-thin shells of porcelain that are bonded onto the front side of teeth so to create a cosmetic improvement for a tooth. They are an expensive procedure therefore it´s mostly used by people who earn a living by their appearance. Trying to have Tom Cruise´s white teeth by using whitening procedures is almost impossible, and trying to do so will only damage your teeth and gums.

How to Whiten Teeth

Once we come to terms with the fact that the teeth we admire so much are artificial and made of porcelain, we can try an achieve whiter teeth with a realistic goal in mind. Before using any whiter teeth method, make an appointment with your dentist. Sometimes it´s easy to forget that "healthy teeth and gums" and not "whiter teeth" is what´s important. Once we have made sure that our teeth and gums are healthy, we can consider the different options for "white teeth" available.

There are many products that promise whiter teeth but, not all of them deliver on their promises. With some whiter teeth products, it´s better to save your money. Most teeth whiteners work by using hydrogen peroxide as a bleaching agent. In order for the product to work, the bleaching agent has to have contact with the tooth´s surface for some time. Most whitening mouth washes and tooth pastes, don´t have a strong enough formulation, nor stay in contact with the tooth´s surface long enough to see any results. Maybe it´s a better idea to buy regular tooth pastes and mouth washes, and save your money for a procedure that will have some visible results. Paint on teeth whiteners form an adhesive film on the surface teeth to deliver the hydrogen peroxide, but it´s very easy for the film to all off because of saliva. Whitening strips are thin, flexible pieces of plastic that have been coated on one side with a thin film of hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent. Whitening strips have come a long way since they were first introduced but, it´s very important to follow the instructions. Leaving them on longer or using them more frequently than advised can burn your gums, cause extreme sensitivity and damage your teeth´s enamel. Another method to achieving white teeth, is by using trays and whitening gel. You can buy them over the counter, but it´s advisable to have your dentist custom make your bleaching trays so that the gel can get into every crook and cranny. There´s also in-office teeth whitening methods that promise a white smile in an hour. The advantage of this method is that it´s quick, not that it will get teeth whiter than by using custom made bleaching trays and gel. It can be misleading, because most patients aren´t happy with the degree of "whiteness" of one treatment, most patients have between three and six so the cost can really add up.

Before using any method be sure to get a clean bill of health from your dentist and have him clean your teeth.

Visit: Como blanquear los dientes and Getting Whiter Teeth.