Teeth Whitening Options

The teeth whitening is the number one cosmetic dental procedure nowadays. Many people are searching for ways to brighten up their teeth, which in turns lightens their whole face and gives them more self-confidence. There may be a mixture of reasons why your teeth are not as white as they should be. Some people have been affected by taking antibiotics such as tetracycline. Others are affected by nerve damage, or may have yellowing due to dental trauma.

It may be that your personal lifestyle is the reason for your teeth discoloration. Your diet and your dental hygiene all play a part in how white your teeth are. One thing that cannot be helped is teeth staining caused by aging. It is said that no matter how great you look, when you open your mouth the color of your teeth will tell your true age.

There are several choices for those who are looking to white teeth and a few of them can be performed at home, but for more strong and lasting results there are a few cosmetic dentistry options you may want to think about.

The Option of Veneers
If you have teeth that are worn down, not in alignment or severely discolored, getting veneers may be an option for you. Not only will your teeth look considerably whiter, it will also change the structure of your teeth. If you are not happy with the way your teeth look not counting the color, then this may be the cosmetic dental procedure you should chose. An additional benefit of getting veneers is that they have a coating of stain resistant material and will practically stay white for the rest of your life.

What about Bonding?
Bonding is meant for procedures that are considered to be a touch up. It can help out to whiten one or two teeth that are discolored, mend any chips in your teeth and help to fill a gap that is wide. Bonding is not like veneers as they typically stain just like your regular teeth do. The good thing about bonding is that it is typically covered by your insurance as it is not just for cosmetic purposes.

Having Your Teeth Whitened by a Professional
When you are looking for lasting improvements to the look of your teeth then having your dentist do a professional teeth-whitening procedure may be the answer. Insurance does not cover the procedure, but if you count on your appearance for your livelihood, then perhaps you should look into the various methods available. Typically a dentist will use a bleaching agent to whiten your teeth. It can take just one visit or several depending upon the severity of discoloration. There is a quicker method using a laser along with whitening gel-containing crystals, this is costly, but results will be instant.

At Home Teeth Whitening
A less costly method to getting your teeth whitened is to use an in home tooth whitening kits. Some use bleaching methods and the instructions will guide you step-by-step through the process so you are confident of doing it right. Though your teeth will not be as white as they would be if you had it done professionally, commonly people are happy with the results they get for the money they paid. 

Also, there are teeth whitening strips you can buy. They are reasonably priced and do work, but may not provide the exact results. The strips have the exact dose of carbamide peroxide preapplied on them. However, the whitening strips will only whiten the teeth they come in contact with. The strips commonly cover the six teeth, eyetooth to eyetooth. So, you will not get a full mouth of white teeth using whitening strips. You are well advised to do some research before buying any home teeth whitening kits as reading reviews of the various products available will steer you to the best ones.