White Teeth

One anti-aging tip is to be sure that you have white teeth. As we age, our teeth become darker. If you smoke (you should stop) or drink coffee (oops, won't go there) then it makes your teeth even worse. Having whiter teeth can make you look younger.

Although there are several methods that you can use to whiten your teeth, all of them use a type of peroxide.

Professional Teeth Whitening

If you go to a professional, (you should always consult with your dentist before beginning any whitening procedure), he will use a stronger whitening agent than you can purchase yourself. Plus, he'll add light to activate the ingredients. The pros to this are that you'll see results faster and he will protect your gums to be sure they aren't affected. The cons are basically the cost and there may be some gum sensitivity.

Some dentists can provide you with plastic trays that are custom fitted to your mouth. You wear these at home. The main benefits are that you are under the care of your dentist and the trays are made to fit your mouth. But again, the price may be steep. These usually are about half the cost of the in office treatments.

Do It Yourself

• White Trays - Similar to what you get from the dentist, but much cheaper - These are a good idea, however the trays are not custom fitted so they may not fit well.
• White Strips - These are easy to use as you just cover your teeth for anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes depending on the brand. This method may take longer to see results.
• Whitening Pen/Ampoules - These methods allow you to "paint" over your teeth with the whitening agent. This allows you to get into areas that the white strips might miss.
• Whitening Toothpastes - In general, toothpastes will remove stains which cam make your teeth look whiter, but no toothpaste actually bleaches your teeth.

Side Effects

The main side effects when whitening your teeth are tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. There is also a slight chance of chemical burns (especially with strong whitening agents) or overbleaching. Some people use fruit acids as a home remedy to obtain white teeth, however there is a chance of damaging the enamel on your teeth with this method (or any method) if left on too long.

Precautions

If you have an allergy to peroxide you should not get your teeth whitened. This also applies to those with gum disease. If you have sensitive or receding gums or any other mouth/teeth problems, consult with your dentist before using any whitening agent.

Additional Info

• Dental work such as tooth colored fillings, crowns, etc will not lighten.
• Some teeth don't whiten as well as others. Yellow teeth whiten better than gray teeth.
• The effects of whitening can last for several months.
• You'll need touch ups to maintain your white teeth sooner if you smoke, drink coffee or eat foods that stain your teeth.

Teeth whitening has become more and more popular over the past few years. This makes sense as white teeth can improve your smile, give you confidence and help you to look younger.