How to whiten your teeth at home? Instead of taking expensive tooth whitening treatment from dentists, you have several choices of whitening your teeth at home.
Enamel is the outermost layer of our teeth and it is the hardest and most mineralized substance in human bodies. The primary mineral in enamel is Hydroxyapatite. Enamel protects our teeth, supports teeth in chewing and is essential in tooth whitening.
Hydroxyapatite is damaged in acidic conditions, which leads to demineralization of enamel. When demineralization of enamel takes place, hardness of enamel decreases. Tooth surface (enamel) becomes rugged. The rugged surface cannot reflect light effectively and therefore, teeth are not shiny and white.
Teeth Whitening Trays
This method is one of the most popular teeth whitening methods in America and Europe. This method involves filling a mouth guard-like tray with a gel whitening solution (peroxide-bleaching agent). These trays are made of soft flexible plastics. There are two trays of which one is for upper teeth and one is for lower teeth. After placing the whitening gel into the trays, you need to wear the tray for prescribed duration (around 20 minutes for 1 to 2 week’s time). The effect will be visible in around 3 week’s time.
Teeth whitening trays provide visible whitening effect of around 4 to 5 shades lighter. The effect lasts for around 12 months. It costs around $200.
Whitening Strips
Whitening strips are very thin, virtually invisible, flexible plastic strips that are coated with a peroxide-based whitening gel. The strip is positioned over your teeth and then gently pressed to stabilize it and create maximum contact. The strip is then peeled off and discarded around 30 minutes of application. For the best results, it is required to apply such strip continuously for 14 days. Initial results are seen in 1 to 2 weeks.
Teeth whitening effect of whitening strips is not as visible as teeth whitening trays at only 2 to 3 shades lighter. The whitening effect is not as long lasting as teeth whitening trays at only 6 months. But, it is more convenient and easy to use and it costs less at around $100.
Whitening Toothpastes
There are many different whitening toothpastes that help remove surface stains because of mild abrasives, gentle polishing or chemical agents. These toothpastes do not irritate tooth gums like Whitening Strips and Teeth Whitening Trays.
It is the cheapest and most convenient type of at-home teeth whitening method. But, the effect is not really visible at around 1 shade lighter.
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