A bright smile isn’t just for celebrities or models on the cover of fashion magazines. The good news, thanks to a number of products, is that stains which build up on your teeth can be removed with some effort and for little cost.  This of course should not replace the twice a year professional cleaning that most dentists recommend. It simply enhances your smile by brightening your teeth.

Teas or dark-colored beverages are just a few of the culprits that can ruin a smile. Even the most diligent tooth brushing can’t bleach out the stains that food and liquid refreshments can cause. But now you don’t have to be a model or an actress to sport a bright white smile.

When they first came on the market, teeth whitening products were available only in the dentist office. This procedure, called chairside bleaching, removed the discoloration that occurs through food stains and age. The active ingredient, carbamide peroxide, was placed in a mold which covered the teeth. Usually one or two treatments of 30 minutes to an hour sufficed. Soon, over-the-counter products, using the same active ingredient, became available for less money.

Obviously some products and treatments are more effective than others. Your best bet is to check with your dentist and ask for a recommendation. Your dental health care professional will be able to tell you which over-the-counter products are the most effective.

Most of the major brands of tooth paste contain “whitening” ingredients in the form of a mild abrasive. These have some effect on bleaching your teeth, but if you are looking for more dramatic effects, you might consider the chemically treated whitening strips. You apply these strips to your teeth for twenty minutes each day for fifteen days in a row. These products produce better results.

While having a gleaming smile is important, there can be a downside to teeth whitening. For some people, the bleaching products can cause sensitivity. For those with crowns or caps that have been made to match their existing tooth color, they might be in for a surprise. They could end up with two different colors of teeth in their mouths. If you are wearing braces when the appliance is removed you could be left with a noticeable “stripe”.

Talk to your dentist and decide which option is best for you. Then smile. Flash that toothy grin. Or as the saying goes, “Show those pearly whites!”

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