Most people do not carry a toothbrush with them wherever they go
. Therefore, not everyone brushes their teeth right after every meal. So as the food and drinks that go in our mouth sit on our teeth, they are actually staining our teeth little by little overtime. We may think we are brushing the food particles away at the end of the day, but some actually have already been sitting on the teeth long enough to cause stains.
If you have noticed your teeth are not as white as they use to be, you may consider using a teeth whitening gel that comes with a tray. You can find them in any grocery or drug store or even from your dentist. Brand name is not as important as the ingredients in the teeth whitening gel. You want a gel that has a gel strength of at least 10% peroxide. Some gels have as much as 20% peroxide but these are the types of gel that may cause extreme tooth sensitive. Meaning your teeth will be sensitive to hot or cold food and drinks. Choose a gel that has around 15% peroxide and follow the directions carefully.
Most teeth whitening gels come with a tray. You fill the tray up with the gel and place the tray in your mouth for a certain amount of time. Depending on the strength of the gel, you may need to leave the tray in your mouth for a couple of hours.
The cost of teeth whitening kits varies. Most are relatively inexpensive but if you want to have the procedure done by a cosmetic dentist, you may be spending several hundred dollars. A dentist uses the same ingredient as found in over the counter whitening kits but it is a higher concentrated amount of peroxide. He may also use a light to help speed up the whitening process. When you get your teeth whitened by a dentist, he may also be able to get your teeth the precise shade of white you are wanting. Its not a good idea to choose the whitest shade for your teeth as it may look unnatural.
When you do the procedure at home, follow the directions and if your teeth are still not as white as you would like them, repeat the process again after a few days. You wont want to whiten your teeth with a teeth whitening kit on a weekly basis. Using it too often could cause sensitivier to your teeth and break down the enamel. There are several whitening toothpastes that are safe to use on a daily basis. Save the teeth whitening gel to use every few months.