Some time during your life, you probably are going to see something about white teeth on television, and then you are going to look in the mirror and smile; you probably will see that your teeth are not as white as the teeth you see on television. So, you might consider whitening your teeth. Should you?
There are no simple teeth whitening procedures; all take a considerable amount of time or money, oftentimes both. Whitening teeth is not just something you do without a second thought, as there are also some health risks. Think hard about it before deciding to do it.
Teeth whitening can be done with over-the-counter products or with lasers. Over-the-counter products are, naturally, easy to get, while lasers require visiting a health and beauty spa or a dentist, dentist being the most common. The more effective teeth whiteners require the products to sit on your teeth for a long period.
The Amount of Time Needed
Teeth whitening products, which you can buy over-the-counter, are usually required to be used for up to an hour a day and take anywhere from 7 to– days of use before the whitening effect is achieved. During that time, you cannot do much else; you cannot eat, drink, smoke, etc.
Do You Even Need to Whiten Your Teeth?
Teeth whitening products are good for people with seriously stained teeth. You might have seriously stained teeth if you have been drinking lots of coffee or tea for a very long time, or you might have teeth like this if you have had braces which stained your teeth. Just make sure you are not “white-orexic” and obsessed with getting your teeth whiter and whiter. Some people will whiten their teeth so much that it looks strange and unnatural.
If your teeth are normal/normal-white, then you should not be looking at whitening. Sure, white teeth are good to have, but it can be overdone. Do not overdo it, as you will look silly.
Are your teeth or gums sensitive?
If you have sensitive teeth or gums, teeth whitening products can be uncomfortable or even unbearable. Whiteners can, and often do, cause tooth and gum sensitivity in even people with normal mouths; this can last anywhere from 24 to 48 hours, and sometimes it can be permanent.
Permanent sensitivity is uncommon and should not be feared by most people, as it is relatively rare. It occurs after heavy usage of teeth whitening products used for a very long time; most users will not have this problem if they “follow the directions.” However, keep it in mind that it is a possibility, and, by whitening your teeth, you are exposing yourself to that risk.
Sensodyne and other sensitive-teeth toothpastes are good for people during the whitening treatment. If your teeth are sensitive, or you think they might become sensitive, you should switch to Sensodyne or another similar product before, during, and for a short time after the teeth whitening procedure.
Remember, the decision is yours. If you are considering using any of the teeth whitening products, the best thing you can do is to educate yourself on the risks and benefits of each. Do not use any without first educating yourself.
Cody Scholberg is an expert on teeth whitening products. Check out his reviews of Whitestrips before you buy them!
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