Teeth Whitener at Home – The Real Story

Most of us have seen the ads on television or in magazines showing beautiful people flashing dazzling white teeth. And, most of us think it is impossible to achieve that kind of brightness without spending a fortune at the dentists’ office. In fact, even with the dozens of over-the-counter whitening products offered at your local grocery or drug store, 85 percent of the population has never tried them. Is it that they don’t believe they work? Or, perhaps they think their own teeth are so stained that nothing that easy and affordable would give them the results they desire? Well, think again! Now you can whiten your teeth in the privacy and convenience of your own home, and it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg.

I’ll be the first one to tell you that in-office, professional whitening can give you greater results in a shorter period of time, but when your pocketbook prohibits you from going that route, it shouldn’t keep you from whitening your teeth at home. Let me give you some helpful pointers and realistic facts about teeth whitening at home.

Facts and Fiction about At-home Teeth Whitening

•    First of all, the whitening toothpastes do work on cleaning surface stains and slight yellowing or graying. It is better to first brush with a mixture of baking soda, lemon juice, and salt before your whitening toothpaste. You actually could stop after the baking soda mixture, but the toothpaste will probably leave a more pleasant taste in your mouth after brushing.

•    Over-the-counter whitening strips and tray-based gel trays also work. The difficulty comes when the tray doesn’t conform to the shape of your particular mouth. Since they are designed as a one-size-fits-all, you may find them to be awkward or somewhat uncomfortable. Some people like the strips better than the tray method for that reason. Although this method is effective, it takes diligence and frequency. Be sure to continue the process even if you don’t see immediate results.

•    Many people think whitening their teeth will make their teeth and gums hurt. While this can be true in some people, for others it causes no sensitivity or discomfort. Don’t overdo the process, though, thinking you’ll get better whitening results. Those who fail to follow the product instructions more frequently experience pain and discomfort.

•    Some people use the excuse that they cannot afford to use whitening products, even in-home methods, because the cost is more than their budget can tolerate. That is a matter of personal finances, but you may want to think of what it is costing you not to whiten your teeth. Certainly, whitening your teeth at home is the most reasonable method if you need to stay within a budget. If not whitening your teeth at home is costing you your self-esteem and confidence, then I say it’s much less expensive to simply get a kit and whiten those discolored teeth.