Brighten Up Your Smile

With so many special occasions coming up, you'll want to make sure to show up with your brightest smile. Especially if you're planning on wearing bold lips--Pairing bright makeup with yellow stained teeth will only accentuate your discolored smile and make it more noticeable. Not tres chic at all.

I must admit, I am a bit of a coffee and tea addict. These tasty drinks are wonderfully delicious but also have stained my teeth. But I did one of the whitening treatments below and I already have seen such a big difference! If you're unsure if you're a good candidate for whitening (do you have fillings, crowns, caps, bonding or veneers in your front teeth? gray-toned teeth? Or sensitivity to cold or hot?), you should consult your dentist first for a recommendation. The American Dental Association suggests a checkup before any whitening treatment to ensure your safety.

There is a difference in bleaching and whitening your teeth. According to the FDA, "bleaching" is used when teeth are changed to shade that's lighter than their natural color. This term used for any products that contain bleach--like hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. On the other hand, "whitening" just refers to removing gunk on your teeth and restoring the surface color, like a toothpaste. This term is used more freely since it sounds gentler.

Check out the different ways you can whiten your teeth, both at home and by your dentist.

#1 Teeth whitening At-Home Kits

If you have healthy and natural teeth, you can try at-home whitening kits, such as trays or strips. Trays are similar to mouth guards that you leave in your mouth for a certain amount of time. Hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide are oxidizing agents that lighten the shade of the enamel. If used properly, they can dramatically whiten your teeth up to five shades or more lighter than your original color. I've been using the Crest 3D Whitestrips Professional Tooth Whitening Kit and am impressed on how much whiter my teeth appeared after one application. I do not have any teeth sensitivity and I made sure to keep the strip off my gums, so it was a painless and easy process.

Be sure not to brush your teeth at least half an hour before the use of any whitening kit. The detergents in your toothpaste can irritate your gums. If you have to brush, skip the toothpaste and just use water on your tooth brush. Teeth whiteners also come in a pen-like form, where you can spot-treat certain areas.

#2 Teeth Whitening Gradual Methods

You can use toothpaste and mouthwash to gradually lighten your teeth by one or two shades. Check that the formula is designed to whiten and prevent new stains from sticking, which is usually displayed on the packaging. When using a whitening toothpaste, you should brush your teeth for a full two minutes for the full lightening impact. Mouthwash only rinses away the stains on top of your teeth, so for a full-on bright smile, you should combine this with another whitening treatment (toothpaste or kit).

#3 Teeth Whitening Professionally Done

If you need your teeth to be pearly white pronto, a trip to your dentist will be needed. Your dentist can use special lights or lasers and create custom trays that fit perfectly in your mouth. These procedures are fairly expensive (some starting at $400 and up) but the turnaround for a whiter smile may make it worth your while. Consult with your dentist about which procedure is best suited for you. A drastic change in your teeth color will be noticeable, so be wary of this before moving forward.

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