Bright, Healthy Smiles for a Lifetime

Whiter, brighter, younger-looking smiles! We see them everywhere: in the movies, on television and in magazines.

People who make their living looking great spend thousands of dollars to look the way they do. Their pictures have been air-brushed to make them look perfect.

How can we get such perfect looking smiles? Is this a realistic goal for us?

Everyone is born with a different colour and shade of teeth. Teeth are not normally white. Natural aging of our teeth does result in a yellower appearance. Coffee, tea, cola and tobacco products will change the colour of your teeth. Making the effort to control these habits will make a difference to the appearance of your teeth.

A visit to your dental hygienist and dentist will result in making sure your teeth and gums are healthy. Any oral health problems should be taken care of before you use whitening products to help you get that whiter, brighter, younger looking smile.

Many whitening products can cause sensitivity for the teeth, so working with a dental health professional will give you the best result. There are two types of ‘whitening’ products available. These professional treatments include: an ‘in-office’ whitening at the dental office with immediate results; and ‘custom-made home whitening kits’, which allow for a gradual whitening process where you have more control over the result. Both of these treatments have long lasting results, with the option to brighten your smile again in one to two years if needed. Frequent use of whitening products could cause problems and it is not recommended (especially with younger smiles).

Products purchased over the internet or television may not be safe, comfortable, reliable or effective. Products you can purchase over the counter at your local store will provide you with fair to good results. Always talk to your dental hygienist or dentist before purchasing products and discontinue use if any sensitivity results. Tooth coloured fillings will look different after use of any whitening products and will need to be redone to match your new smile.

Teeth that have yellow or yellow-brown stains work well with whitening products. Teeth that are grey do not get the same results. Studies have shown that smoking while using whitening products is not recommended. Battery-operated or electric toothbrushes work well to reduce the staining of your teeth and help to keep your gums healthy. Whitening toothpastes are available and have very limited results. Natural products such as baking soda and sea salt will have similar results.

Talk to your dental hygienist and/or dentist about brightening your smile.

An attractive, healthy smile will make a difference!

For more information talk to your dental hygienist and/or dentist.