I was just wondering if anyone could suggest a method of whitening my teeth that is not too expensive. Maybe a home-made method? If not, any suggestions on the best store bought product for your money?
Teeth whitening?
Chewing on crunchy foods like carrots, apples and celery, is said to cause friction which helps get debris off your teeth that can stain them. There are many old natural remedies and some new natural and/or herbal products, as well as, some chemical products, all claiming to whiten teeth.
The color of teeth comes from genetics originally, and it varies person to person. Teeth will natually discolor over time due to age. The best way to keep teeth as white and you were designed to have, is to avoid foods, liquids, drugs, and products that stain teeth.
Avoid things known to stain teeth, like coffee, tea, red wine, berries, tobacco products, food colorings, etc.... Avoid direct exposure to a lot of raw lemons or citrus products like tomatos, limes, oranges, as the citric acid wears the enamel off the teeth, and when dentin is exposed (like with cavities), it can cause discoloration. If you do eat them, rinse your teeth right away. Avoid carbonated drinks that contain phosphoric acid, like coca cola for the same reason. Sports drinks often contain citric acid, phosphoric acid and organic acid (coffee contains organic acids, also). The latter two are known to break down calcium, along with breaking down enamel. Also, If you eat raw papaya or raw pineapple, rinse your mouth after eating them, as they have enzymes that can cause sores in your mouth and gums, because they break down proteins.
The antibiotic tetracycline is known to cause teeth to stain and so is fluoride and caffeine. Mercury fillings cause teeth to stain where the tooth comes in contact with the filling; This is because of galvanization. So, one should get all amalgams replaced. Gold seems to be ok as long as it is a good quality gold such as high noble, and white composites or porcelain fillings can be used.
Hydrogen peroxide can whiten teeth, but it can penetrate teeth, which are porous, and cause sensitivity. It is used in dental bleaching. It is a special 35% solution, so buying the 2% bottle of it over the counter in hopes to make your teeth white, will not work and could eventually cause sensitivity, irritation, or inflamation of the gums. Myself, I do not recommend teeth whiteners of any kind, for the same reason. If you do decide to use a teeth whitener, either over the counter or from the dentist, if you are not avoiding foods that cause staining, your teeth will stain again, and you will have wasted your money. To whiten your teeth often, will most likely cause sensitivity, enamel breakdown, and can lead to cavities. The long term effects of teeth bleaching on nerves and blood vessels inside the teeth are unknown. Laser bleaching seems to cause more problems with sensitivity than non-laser bleaching. Bleaching does not work on false teeth, crowns, veneers or fillings (even white ones). You may opt to replace those with lighter shades if you don%26#039;t like the color. Bleaching is not recommended for children whose teeth are still developing or for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
It is important to brush after meals to avoid plaque and tartar build up, which can also cause discoloration. Avoid toothpastes that contain abrasives to fight plaque and tarter, as they can wear away enamel and make the dentin show through (which has a yellowish or brownish tint), which can cause staining, or cavities or cause your teeth to appear brown or yellow. Also, avoid brushing too hard for the same reason. If you do consume products that cause staining, use water to rinse your mouth directly afterward.
There is a technique called internal bleaching. The only way it can be done is to have a root canal, and root canals cause devastating health effects and should be avoided altogether.
The British Dental Association has expressed concern that the smokers%26#039; whitening toothpastes Clinomyn and Pearl Drops are too abrasive. Many whitening toothpastes contain titanium dioxide, a suspected carcinogen and can be absorbed by the skin, and, when the effluent containing it is discharged from manufacturers, it acidifies rivers and seas.
Smokers toothpaste, Topol, containing an abrasive form of silica to remove heavy stains from tar and resin deposits can cause damage to cementum and dentin in people with gingival recession, resulting root exposure.
Tooth whitening actually requires modifying the intrinsic tooth color, chemically alterating the chromophores within the tooth. Whitening toothpastes using bicarbonate, alumina and polyphosphates cannot whiten teeth; All they can do is contribute to stain removal. Whitening requires bleaching or enzymatic disruption.
Acid penetration and dissolution has not been an acceptable method of whitening for nearly a century.
Many products claim whitening ability with various peroxides -- hydrogen, calcium or carbamide. For over-the-counter peroxide content is kept low. It has effervescence and maybe some short-lived bleaching because peroxide is rapidly broken down by oral enzymes from bacteria and saliva. Gels stay on longer, but must be used with a tray to work. Only whitening products used by dentists have ADA acceptance. Over-the-counter product manufacturers have never attempted such claims.
A product called NatureWhite contains carbamide peroxide is supposed to whiten your teeth dramatically with just one 45 Minute application. It is said to be the same thing that dentists use and that dentists use a 12% solution while NatureWhite uses a 22% solution. Crest white strips, by comparison, have a 3% solution.
Before whitening your teeth, you should find out if your teeth have thin enamel. This can cause your teeth to have a yellowish or brownish apperance. Whitening will not help in this situation and can make appearance worse and cause sensitivity.
There are herbs that have been used throughout history to whiten teeth. Sage boiled in water to make tea was said to strengthen gums and whiten teeth. During the middle ages, powdered mint leaves were used to whiten teeth. Charcoal was touted as the best powder to use for whitening teeth, removing tartar and preventing decay. Other common ingredients in tooth powders included: cream of tartar, camphor, white castile soap powder, cuttle fish bone, precipitated chalk, powdered borax, powdered gum myrrh, powdered orris root, and talc. The majority of these ingredients cleaned and whitened teeth.
Here are some other natural remedies :
Take a teaspoon of lemon juice and a tsp of salt. Make a paste. Apply this on the yellowish tint.
Use the inner white part of an orange peel to rub teeth for a lovely white shine.
Take half teaspoon of bi-carbonate of soda mixed with a little water to form a paste. Rub this on your teeth.
Dried %26amp; powdered Bay leaves combined with dried orange peel is an excellent whitener.
Strawberries, oddly enough are said to have cleansing and bleaching properties that can help remove of tea and coffee stains, especially from dentures. Crush the strawberries gently and rub the pulp onto your teeth. Rinse with water.
There are some new tooth pastes and products with Bromaine Complex, a combination of the natural enzymes, Bromelaine from pineapple, and Papain from papaya, said to be clinically proven to whiten teeth.
Dentizyme is an herbal remedy; it consists of a unique blend of bio-active plant enzymes, organic botanicals, rainforest botanicals, and essential oils. Dentizyme users report fewer or no gum disease symptoms, they also report that their gums look pinker and healthier along with excellent teeth whitening results and teeth stains are said to disappear entirely with continued use of this herbal extract.
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here is some info on zoom:
http://www.rebeccablood.net/archive/2007...
Price is $500 to $675
How does Zoom teeth whitening work?
This method consists of a mixture of gel and special light wave treatments. The patient is seated and the dentist uses a retractor to separate the lips from the teeth so that the gel can be applied. A special gel is then applied on all the exterior faces of the teeth. The dentist is careful, at this point, not to let the gel touch the patient’s gums too much, as it may cause irritation or lesions.
How long does it last and what effects can I expect?
The answers to the questions are different from one person to another. In most cases, a Zoom teeth whitening procedure is done twice a year. An average person who drinks coffee frequently and smokes daily will have improved tooth brightness - around 10 shades brighter. After the procedure is completed, the teeth will gradually start to regain their yellowish color over time, depending on how well you take care of them. On average, people who went through in office tooth whitening procedures noticed that their teeth stay white for months, although the initial brightness does not last more than a few weeks.
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for toothpaste, i recommend neydent or apagard and for a toothbrush, i recommend an ionic (not sonic) brush.
Neydent
NeyDent ® prevents caries and pain when the teeth are extremely sensitive. NeyDent ® also improves the blood flow, which strengthens the gums and builds up resistance against colds and infections.
or
APAGARD remineralizing toothpaste
• According to the Japan Corporate News Network, Japanese toothpaste manufacturer Sangi has developed a technology to control ultrafine particles. The company will start to distribute New-Apagard, a toothpaste based on the technology, in April 2004. Sangi claims the paste is highly effective in re-calcifying and whitening teeth.
Reply:White washing your teeth might be cheaper but hazardous. Hence, you have no alternative to consulting a dentist.
Reply:I%26#039;ve used Crest Whitening Strips. They are cheap and work well.
Reply:Well, you can use teeth whitening system but there are rumors that teeth whitening system is cancerous.
Reply:in the end....office whitening. u will spend way more on over the counter products that will never get your teeth as white as you want. if you get the trays done in the office its a one time fee. u get 2 syringes of gel for 2 weeks and your teeth will be totally white. after a year you will need to buy more gel to touch up which only costs about 25 dollars and you only need to touch up 2 days and the gel goes in the fridge til u need it again.
Reply:I use, and love, Crest Whitening Strips. They start at a little over $10 and go to over $40. I have always been happy with the results. After I complete the whitening process I use Crest Vivid White tooth paste to help boost the color and even everything out. I also suggest you invest in an electric tooth brush, it will help naturally whiten your teeth and keep them white.
Good Luck!
Reply:Commercial tooth whiteners use hydrogen peroxide and
are expensive and inconvenient. A cheap and natural
tooth whitening home remedy uses few strawberries
but certain precautions have to be followed. details
available at http://tinyurl.com/ep7yg
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