WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND SAFE WAY TO WHITEN MY TEETH?”
How Do I Get My Teeth Pearly White? Often the distinction between a good smile and a great smile is the whiteness of the teeth. Over time most teeth typically lose their luster and brightness because they accumulate stains made by foods and beverages. New whitening agents can take away these stains without harming your teeth. There are two classes of dental stains. For intrinsic stain, the teeth’s discoloration is caused from the “inside” by “internal” agents such tetracycline and fluoride. In contrast, in extrinsic stain, the teeth’s discoloration is caused from the “outside” by “external” agents such as tea, coffee, and tobacco. Intrinsic stains are harder to remove than extrinsic stain. I recommend bonding and veneers treatment for intrinsic stains and bleaching for extrinsic stain. By far the best and fastest bleaching solutions are offered by your dentist. During a typical whitening procedure, your dentist will fabricate a custom tray to hold whitening gel against your teeth. You
The secret to this inexpensive home whitening method is malic acid, which acts as an astringent to remove surface discoloration. Combined with baking soda, strawberries become a natural tooth-cleanser, buffing away stains from coffee, red wine, and dark sodas. While it’s no replacement for a bleaching treatment at your dentist’s office, “this is a fast, cheap way to brighten your smile,” says Adina Carrel, DMD, a dentist in private practice at Manhattan Dental Arts in New York. “Be careful not to use this too often, though, as the acid could damage the enamel on your teeth.” You need: 1 ripe strawberry 1/2 teaspoon baking soda Directions: Crush the strawberry to a pulp, then mix with the baking soda until blended. Use a soft toothbrush to spread the mixture onto your teeth. Leave on for 5 minutes, then brush thoroughly with toothpaste to remove the berry–baking soda mix. Rinse. (A little floss will help get rid of any strawberry seeds.) Carrel says you can apply once a week.
