Teeth get stained. That’s a fact of life that we all must come to terms with at some point in time. Teeth are constantly being exposed to various foods, beverages or even cigarettes. All of these things have the potential to discolor the enamel on teeth and diminish the brightness of your smile.

But there’s hope. There are several ways to undo the damage. Here are some of the best teeth whitening techniques that will make a positive difference.

The first innovation designed to whiten teeth appeared several years ago. These are teeth whitening trays and were available only through a dentist.

It is a simple, yet effective, product. A tray is molded or shaped to the shape of your mouth. A peroxide whitening or bleaching agent is placed on the tray, which is then put in your mouth and worn for 30-60 minutes each day for a period of several weeks.

There are plusses and minuses to this method. Positively, teeth can be whitened dramatically using this approach. Negatively, there is the time involved in wearing the tray as well as the fact that the whitening agent may cause teeth to become sensitive.

An even more effective teeth whitening method than tray bleaching is laser whitening. In laser whitening, a whitening gel is applied to the patient’s teeth and then energized with light from a dental laser, speeding up the process considerably. Though highly effective, it is also expensive.

There are several less expensive but effective ways to whiten teeth. Among the best of these teeth whitening methods are whitening strips.

They should be worn about an hour a day and they do whiten teeth to a considerable degree. The problem that people notice is that the gaps between the teeth do not receive the whitening agent and this becomes more obvious as the front of the teeth become whiter.

Many people feel that the best teeth whitening products are gels. Take note of the percent of the active ingredient when purchasing a gel. A larger amount of carbamide peroxide means that you will notice results more quickly. Gels can be applied to the teeth using a molded tray, but it’s important to shield your gums from the chemicals.

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