Whiten your teeth at home!

Whitening Your Teeth Effectively At Home

Author: dayseze2

Smiling, which usually makes you feel good, can also make you feel self-conscious if your teeth are less than white. A good smile is important as it helps to form that all important first impression when you meet someone. It can go a long way in forming a positive relationship in any situation, be it job related or personal. Many individuals desire a whiter, brighter smile. Although teeth whitening can be effective, the degree to which results are obtained will vary by individual. For many, the natural color of their teeth are not what would be considered "white" so in effect, you may not be trying to regain your natural color, but rather make them whiter than they would naturally be. Everyone's teeth whiten differently and everyone has a threshold color that they will eventually reach and cannot go beyond. This will be your natural tooth color without any stains. In order to achieve the unnaturally white tooth colors, you may need to explore other options beyond the whitening techniques discussed in this article.

If your teeth are yellow, that is an indication that the stains are probably just on the surface and your teeth should turn at least a couple of shades lighter with at-home whitening. However, if your teeth look more grayish, the discoloration likely lies inside the teeth and home whitening likely won't help as much.

Teeth generally become discolored with age. This happens for several reasons. First, the enamel on teeth becomes thinner and more transparent, and the inner layer, called dentin, looks darker. Additionally, teeth also become stained over time because they absorb colored liquids found in various foods and beverages. Some of the most staining beverages are coffee, tea, cola, cranberry juice and red wine. Foods such as blueberries and beets are also highly staining as are dishes which contain tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar, or soy sauce. Smoking is also a major culprit in the staining of the teeth. The tar and nicotine found in cigarettes turns teeth yellow with repeated exposure.

Millions of dollars each year are spent on whitening strips, gels, toothpastes designed to produce a whiter smile. Unfortunately many of these products are extremely expensive. For a fraction of the cost, the same results can be produced by individuals at home using some basic ingredients that can be purchased in most grocery and drug stores.

Hydrogen peroxide is the key ingredient in most over the counter whiteners. Trays and strips are the most effective at-home choices for dramatic whitening. They are designed to keep the peroxide solution against the teeth for a long period of time. These products have proven to be effective but similar results can be obtained at home using a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. This bleaching agent forms bubbles on the tooth enamel that will lift away stains. The higher the concentration of peroxide and the longer you leave it on your teeth, the whiter they'll get. Simply brush your teeth as you normally would. Then swish with 1-2 Tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide for 1 minute. Swish with water for another minute or more to rinse away all the hydrogen peroxide. Repeat this daily until you see desired results. Using a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide will increase its effectiveness. However, higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide may cause temporary sensitivity in the teeth so you should find one that is most comfortable for you.

Another effective ingredient in found in many whitening products is baking soda. Most major brands of toothpaste now offer a version of their product which contains baking soda. While these products work, they are also rather pricy. Baking soda is inexpensive and a 6 month supply can be purchased for the price of 1 tube of whitening paste. Simply dip your toothbrush in a small amount of baking soda and brush your teeth with it for 2 minutes. You can then brush your teeth with regular, less expensive toothpaste for an additional 2 minutes. In addition to saving money, brushing with straight baking soda will be more effective as it will be a higher concentration than found in the whitening toothpaste.
Banana peels have also been proven to be effective in whitening teeth. Cut a small piece of the peel and rub the white inside part on your teeth. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse. It is believed that the minerals inside the peel will naturally whiten your teeth without chemical damage. If you would like more information on additional Teeth Whitening Home Remedies, be sure to visit Cure It At Home where you can find home remedies, treatments and cures for many common ailments!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cosmetics-articles/whitening-your-teeth-effectively-at-home-6876988.html

About the Author

Robert Day is a teacher and educator as well as a health and fitness coach. He has written for several online publications on various topics. He also owns and operates several websites on home remedies as well as healthy recipes.