Though you may strive to maintain a pearly white smile, your tooth color could diminish over time. A number of factors, including consuming foods and drinks with staining agents, could make your teeth appear yellower or darker. This could, in turn, make you feel unhappy with the way your smile looks.
You might then be in the market for a product that can give you a brighter-looking smile, such as whitening toothpaste. But how effective will this over-the-counter item prove to be at boosting the look of your teeth? Read on to learn more about how whitening toothpaste can enhance your tooth color.
How Does Traditional Toothpaste Work?
You apply toothpaste to a toothbrush to improve the brush’s ability to scrub away plaque and other harmful residues that accrue on your smile throughout your day. This is due to the abrasive ingredients within toothpaste that can also help to remove surface stains on the teeth. In conjunction with flossing, toothpaste makes for a crucial oral hygiene tool.
But your toothbrush and traditional toothpaste alone cannot reach more stubborn tooth stains in your enamel. These form deeper in the teeth thanks to staining agents that discolor where the brush and floss cannot access. You will need more targeted whitening solutions if you want to improve your tooth color.
Will Whitening Toothpaste Brighten My Tooth Color?
Whitening toothpaste contains additional ingredients, like hydrogen peroxide, a bleaching agent. This product can therefore clean your teeth like traditional toothpaste while also brightening your tooth color.
The bleaching agent will permeate into the enamel to lift stains to the surface where you can easily brush them away. This can leave your smile several shades brighter.
Make sure you choose a brand of whitening toothpaste featuring the ADA seal. Then you can feel confident that you select a product proven to work when used as directed. Follow the instructions on the product label to get the best results.
Whitening toothpaste will only offer a one-size-fits-all approach to smile enhancement. It cannot remove all dental stains or guarantee an even finish. You should speak to your dentist to get the optimal results in teeth whitening.
What Other Ways Can I Whiten My Teeth?
A dentist can offer professional-grade teeth whitening to their patients for an improved experience with brightening your smile. They will apply whitening gel containing bleaching agents to the teeth in their office. This supervised and expert application ensures an even and natural-looking finish with minimized side effects.
They can also provide a take-home whitening kit featuring custom-fitting trays filled with bleaching gel. This will give you this same even coverage with a more gradual brightening effect on your smile.
For deeper dental discoloration, a dentist might recommend other cosmetic dental work, like tooth bonding or porcelain veneers. Schedule an appointment with your dentist to find an individualized treatment plan that will give you the bright white smile of your dreams.