Brightening smiles is one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry requests we receive! While teeth naturally become discolored over time, many factors such as tobacco use, certain foods, and drinks can also affect their brightness. Fortunately, enhancing the whiteness of your smile can help you look younger and healthier, giving you a fresh, vibrant appearance.

Because discoloration is common, many people are exploring teeth whitening options. It’s important to know that while there are many ways to whiten teeth, not all are effective or safe. Here are some of our recommendations to help you choose the best teeth whitening options for a beautiful, bright smile.

Avoid Home Remedies

Searching for DIY techniques online is how some people approach any problem in life. While you can learn many good things this way, figuring out how to whiten your teeth is not one of them. 

There is no shortage of home remedies for teeth whitening online. There are plenty of them. Some of the ones that come up regularly are gargling vinegar or brushing with strange ingredients, such as charcoal, turmeric, or strawberries mixed with baking soda. Many of these approaches can stain your teeth, and some can even damage them. 

The most dangerous home remedies for teeth whitening are those that are either acidic or abrasive—or both. The difficult thing about these remedies is that they might even seem to work when people first start using them. Acid can strip away the outer layer of your enamel, and abrasives can scrape it away. By removing the outer, stained layer of enamel, these approaches can expose a brighter layer underneath. 

This might seem like a good strategy, but tooth enamel is precious. You only have a small amount of it, and the body can’t make any more. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. 

If you keep using these destructive whitening techniques, you will eliminate so much of your tooth enamel that the darker inner layers of your teeth will begin to show through. This will undo all the benefits that your home whitening remedy showed at first. When this happens, we won’t be able to whiten your teeth–there’s not enough enamel to brighten up.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Whitening Is a Good Place to Start

If you are looking for a safe, simple, affordable way to whiten your teeth, over-the-counter (OTC) teeth whitening is an excellent place to start after checking with your dentist first. You should check with your dentist to find out whether your tooth stains are likely to respond to whitening and to make sure your teeth are healthy enough for teeth whitening. 

OTC whitening works by breaking down stain molecules so they don’t stain your teeth, and they wash out of your teeth, too. However, the whiteners can also cause minor damage to your enamel. This isn’t stripping your enamel like the home remedies can; it’s weakening, which your body can heal. The trick to keeping OTC whitening safe and effective is to balance the whitening treatments with your body’s slow natural enamel healing mechanisms. Think of your enamel as a series of brick walls. Whitening chemicals remove a few bricks from the wall; if you don’t remove too many, the body can put the bricks back in before significant damage. Attack by acids and abrasives can remove a brick wall, and the body can’t rebuild it. 

To keep these two tensions in balance, you should:

  • Carefully read the instructions for the whitener you’re using
  • Never use more than one whitener at a time
  • Stop whitening and talk to a dentist if you develop sensitivity
  • Stop whitening and speak to a dentist if your teeth start looking translucent or yellow

If you follow these guidelines, you will likely get some degree of teeth whitening safely with OTC treatments. Many people are unhappy with OTC whitening because it doesn’t brighten enough (which is why they are tempted to try multiple teeth whiteners simultaneously).

Professional Teeth Whitening: Achieve Your Brightest Smile

For the most effective teeth whitening, professional treatments are the best choice. Unlike over-the-counter options, professional whitening like KöR and Zoom! uses stronger agents to achieve a significantly brighter smile. These treatments also protect your teeth during the whitening process, minimizing sensitivity and preventing enamel damage.

KöR Whitening: Deep Stain Removal

KöR Whitening is ideal for those with stubborn, deep stains caused by factors like aging, medications, or tetracycline. This system combines in-office treatments with at-home kits, ensuring a continuous and thorough whitening process. KöR penetrates deep into the teeth to dissolve tough stains, providing long-lasting, impressive results.

Zoom! Teeth Whitening: Quick and Dramatic Results

If you need fast results, Zoom! Teeth Whitening is a great option. This treatment uses a strong hydrogen peroxide gel activated by LED light to quickly remove surface stains. Each session is tailored to your needs, making it perfect for those wanting a brighter smile in a short amount of time. The included post-treatment gel helps reduce sensitivity and protect enamel, ensuring a comfortable experience.

Choosing the Best Option for You

Choosing between KöR and Zoom! depends on your specific needs. KöR is ideal for deep, persistent stains, while Zoom! is perfect for those seeking immediate results. Consult with a cosmetic dentist to determine which option best suits your goals for a brighter, more confident smile.

Porcelain Veneers: Whitening and So Much More

While professional teeth whitening is effective for many, it may not always achieve the desired level of brightness due to the natural characteristics of your tooth enamel and the types of stains present. Tooth discoloration can stem from various factors. Extrinsic stains, caused by external elements like smoking, coffee, tea, and certain foods, primarily affect the surface of the teeth and are usually easier to treat with whitening. However, intrinsic stains are more complex, originating from within the tooth due to aging, trauma, or medications, and affecting the inner tooth structure. These deeper stains can be challenging to eliminate with standard whitening methods, especially if your enamel is thin and allows the darker layers beneath to show through.

In such cases, porcelain veneers provide an excellent alternative. Veneers offer a new, customized surface for your teeth. These thin, durable layers of advanced ceramic are placed over the front and sometimes the top of your teeth, allowing you to , regardless of your enamel’s natural color. With veneers, you’re not restricted by the limitations of your natural tooth color, making them an ideal choice for those seeking a brighter, more uniform smile.

But veneers offer more than just color correction. Because they create a new front surface for your teeth, veneers can also reshape and enhance your smile in other ways. They can make your teeth appear longer, repair chips, close gaps, and even provide some cosmetic straightening. This versatility makes veneers a powerful cosmetic treatment capable of transforming your smile, no matter its current appearance.

For those looking to address issues like black triangles between their teeth, Bioclear offers a minimally invasive and cost-effective solution. Bioclear uses clear, tooth-shaped forms and a special technique where dental composite is wrapped around the tooth to close gaps and reshape teeth, achieving a beautiful, natural-looking smile. Whether you opt for Bioclear or traditional veneers, both treatments can help you attain the perfect smile you desire with minimal discomfort.

Looking for Teeth Whitening in Irvine?

Are you unhappy with the discoloration of your teeth? You don’t have to live with that anymore. We offer a number of teeth whitening options, and we can select the best one for your teeth. 

To learn the best way to whiten your teeth, please call (949) 551-5902 to request an appointment with our Irvine cosmetic dentists.