Over time, your teeth may grow yellow, dull, or stained. These can occur due to poor oral habits or factors outside your control like aging. Regardless of the cause, you do not have to remain unhappy with the way that your smile appears.
You can ask your dentist about cosmetic dental treatment to brighten your smile. But over-the-counter products like whitening toothpaste can also help you achieve your smile aesthetic goals. Read on to learn more about how whitening toothpaste can enhance the look of your teeth.
How Does Toothpaste Clean Your Smile?
When you complete your usual oral hygiene routine, you use floss, a toothbrush, and toothpaste to clean your teeth. The combination of brushing movements and the cleaning properties of the toothpaste allow you to effectively get rid of lingering plaque and surface stains.
Toothpaste contains abrasive ingredients that scrub the teeth and lift minor discoloration from the surface of the teeth along with plaque and other build-ups. But traditional toothpaste cannot reach stains deeper in the tooth enamel. To get rid of this type of discoloration, you will need more targeted hygienic and cosmetic solutions.
Does Whitening Toothpaste Enhance Tooth Color?
If you want to brighten your tooth color, you can purchase a toothpaste specifically designed to whiten your smile. Whitening toothpaste contains abrasive ingredients like the traditional kind. But it also features bleaching agents.
These seep deep into the enamel of your smile to lift stains that can then be brushed away, leaving you with a brighter color in your teeth. For optimal results, you should choose a brand of toothpaste marked with the ADA seal. This way, you know the product is clinically approved for the purpose of whitening your teeth.
Though this toothpaste is designed to brighten the color of your teeth, you will not see guaranteed results. Whitening toothpaste has a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. Severe discoloration may need a more targeted whitening solution from your dentist.
What Other Teeth Whitening Options Can I Pursue?
If you still seek enhancement in your tooth color after using over-the-counter materials like whitening toothpaste, talk to your dentist. During a cosmetic consultation, your dentist can examine your smile and develop a treatment plan that will suit your unique dental needs. They can factor in your desired results as well as your medical history to find the most effective procedures to achieve your smile goals.
For instance, your dentist can whiten your teeth with a special bleaching gel in their office. They can monitor the process to ensure you get the color that looks both gorgeous and natural for your smile. They can also ensure the gel does not irritate your gum tissue.
Other teeth whitening options include dental bonding and porcelain veneers. These procedures can offer long-lasting smile enhancement. Make sure you follow your dentist’s aftercare guidelines to get the most out of your cosmetic treatment. Pay attention to your oral habits to avoid re-staining your teeth.