Everyone knows how important it is to make a good first impression and one of the first things people notice is your smile. Having discoloured teeth not only takes the shine off even the most beautiful of smiles but can also lead you to feel more self-conscious about opening your mouth to smile, making you feel less confident and less sure of yourself. Luckily, help is at hand! A quick tooth whitening session can be a cheap, easy and safe way to put the sparkle back in your eye and the dazzle back in your smile.
Whiter teeth can be achieved through a number of teeth whitening methods. One of the cheapest approaches is to use a home teeth whitening kit. While these can be bought off the shelf from a supermarket or chemist`s store, the cheapest kits can be less effective or even dangerous to use without professional help. To drastically reduce the chances of having unfortunate side effects from the teeth whitening bleach, it is safest to ask for a professional home teeth whitening kit from a professional cosmetic dentist. The dentist will use dental putty to make a mould of the shape of your teeth and jaw. This mould is then coated in plaster which is used to build teeth whitening trays which will be specifically built to the shape of your teeth, ensuring your shiny new smile is perfect all round. Your dentist will provide you with dental whitening gel which is used in the tray; the time you spend using the tray each day varies depending on the gel you are using and can be anything from a couple of hours a day to a whole night. You can keep using the tray until you are happy with the result.
Alternatively, teeth whitening can also be done in-surgery, usually by laser. This method is more expensive than home teeth whitening but can also have much more dramatic results as a higher concentration of peroxide can be used in the teeth whitening gel. Whereas your home kit should contain only a small percentage of peroxide in order to minimise the chances of potentially dangerous side effects, a professional dentist is able to use a higher concentration safely. With this approach, the dentist will separate the teeth from the lips and gums using rolls of cotton and protective gels before coating the teeth with teeth whitening gel. The dentist may then use a laser to activate the gel, although some find exposure to natural light can be just as effective. The process takes approximately fifteen minutes and can be repeated up to three times in one session. Results are instant and can be astounding!
Before having your teeth professionally whitened, your dentist will make an assessment of the health of your teeth and gums and decide whether or not you are eligible for the process. They should also be able to provide you with a teeth whitening guide which will explain the treatments available in more detail and will also warn you of any potential side effects. Fortunately, side effects from professional whitening are extremely uncommon and patients are almost always ecstatic to rediscover the shine to their smile.
