Let’s be honest – all of us without a perfectly white smile are worried about the whiteness of our teeth, but what can we do about it? From home remedies to cosmetic dentistry, read on to find out everything you need to know about teeth whitening, from how to the process works to other options you can pursue.
Ancient Traditions
People have been trying to make their teeth whiter almost as long as we’ve been around, as evidenced by the traditional Indian practice of oil pulling. The supposedly age-old remedy has been said to improve oral hygiene and whiten teeth, due to the benefits of swishing oil in your mouth. While in the past sunflower and sesame oil have been used to get these benefits over a long period of use, today the practice continues with the use of coconut oil as it contains healthy acids that reduce inflammation and kill bacteria. However, the process can be laborious as to get the full benefits of swishing the coconut oil you have to do it daily for 15 to 20 minutes, and there is little scientific evidence backing up the use of oil pulling.
Modern Whitening Remedies
When you see toothpastes at the supermarket that claim to whiten your teeth as you brush, they normally contain baking soda as an active ingredient. This is due to its natural whitening properties, which come from its abrasive ability to help scrub away surface stains on teeth. Several studies claim that baking soda can be effective at whitening teeth when used alone to brush them over a long period of time, and because of this many people brush their teeth with baking soda at home today. To use this remedy, mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 2 teaspoons of water and brush your teeth with the mix. If done several times a week, this is said to help whiten your teeth in the long term.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening done by a dentist is one of the most popular and trusted methods of getting a brighter smile, as the entire procedure is completed in the clinic with your dentist, and furthermore the results can always be seen instantly after the treatment is completed. The process for Professional Teeth Whitening involves applying a whitening gel to the teeth, which is then photo-activated by an LED light and deeply penetrates the tooth to remove deep stains. This is a one-off process, but can be an intensive treatment: patients have to be comfortable with a long period of dental work under intense light.
At Naenae we use ZOOM Whitening as our professional teeth whitening option – the most effective whitening system Wellington has to offer. We also can give you the option to use take-home whitening trays for those who’d prefer not to undergo an extensive treatment session: you only have to use these at night while you sleep, and over time, they can give you the same results that you’d see with the ZOOM Whitening one-off treatment.
Veneers
The most reliable treatment to get whiter teeth, veneers are thin, tooth-coloured laminates for your teeth that are made from porcelain or composite resin, that are used to brighten your smile and often to eliminate gaps between teeth. They are custom made to fit your teeth, and shaped to bond to the front of your teeth, providing a strong solution to annoying aesthetic teeth problems. Veneers need to be prescribed, made up and placed on your teeth by a dentist, and Naenae Dental offers veneers as a solution for those needing cosmetic dentistry to whiten teeth.
If you want a consultation where an experienced dentist can recommend the best teeth whitening option for you, then get in touch with Naenae Dental now and start heading towards a future with a whiter and brighter smile. As the most trusted dentist Lower Hutt has, you can trust us to find the best solution possible for whitening your teeth, and provide it to you for a low cost.
