Okay, I admit it. It’s only now that I learned about the presence of teeth whitening treatments in the market. Before this very minute, I used to be one of the unfortunate millions who regretted the fact that once born with yellow teeth – or acquired – you’re forever doomed with it. So you can just imagine my joy when I found out that there’s actually such a thing called teeth whitening. And it actually works!

If you’re wondering what’s so bad about yellow teeth then look at the mirror once more and tell me straight – what’s so nice about it? Between yellow and white, why not go for the shiny kind of teeth? Why continue to suffer with yellow teeth when teeth whitening treatments can turn that into something that could rival Snowhite’s skin?

The advantages to going for a teeth whitening treatment are endless. Let’s talk about looks. Whether you like it or not, having good looks matter in this world. It can open up doors that were previously shut close to you. And having shiny white teeth is part of being good-looking. No matter that you have just about the best facial structure since Audrey Hepburn and you’re blessed with a Barbie like figure, with yellow teeth, you’re still not considered beautiful.

Besides looks, there are also career advantages you could enjoy when you go for a teeth whitening treatment. Employers are always on the lookout for decent looking employees who could be presented as models to look up to. White teeth is often taken as a sign of responsibility because taking good care of one’s teeth is quite a hard – and often underestimated and undervalued – task and it’s also seen as an indication of someone free from vices, nicotine in particular.

If you’re inclined to say yes now to teeth whitening treatments, here are the options available to you.

Professional Teeth Whitening Treatments – When I say professional, this means letting the dentist take over the teeth whitening treatment from point A to Z. This may also mean regular visits to the clinic until you achieve the proper whitening tone for your teeth. The effects of professional teeth whitening treatments are better than do it yourself treatments but they’re also more expensive.

Do It Yourself Teeth Whitening Treatments – as you can already draw from the name itself, it’s something that you can accomplish all by yourself. The effects may vary, depending on your ability to follow the instructions to the letter and on the amount of whitening solution used in the treatment. Less expensive than a professional treatment.

Michael Colucci is a technical writer for Teeth Whitening Tips - A free site that offers info on the problems and solutions regarding the different teeth whitening techniques.

A great smile can prove to be a valuable asset, particularly when you first meet someone. However, people who have brown or yellow stained teeth are very conscious of this shortcoming. It may also cause social insecurity. One of the best treatment methods available to gain back that white perfect smile is teeth whitening. The basic methodology of teeth whitening is that it reverses the process of discoloration of teeth, bleaching them to reveal the white enamel again.

Teeth generally darken over a period of time. This may be due to consumption of caffeine-containing drinks (like tea, coffee and cola) or tobacco products. Also, excessive fluoride production and use of antibiotic medication can also lead to teeth discoloration. However, the biggest factor contributing to the loss of whiteness is age. Teeth whitening, to counter the process of discoloration, is one of the safest and the most popular procedure in cosmetic dentistry. Studies indicate that almost 96% of the people who undergo this treatment experience visible benefits.

There are three options available to those considering this procedure – you can either undergo professional bleaching, try home bleaching or use whitening toothpastes. Of the three listed, the quickest and the most effective is professional bleaching. It is also referred to as In-Office or Chair-side bleaching. It usually requires two or more visits to a dentist. However, the effects are much long lasting than any other procedure. The dentist will apply a bleaching agent to your teeth. The gums, however, are not harmed. The most common mouth guard is a gel or rubber shield. After the dentist has carefully applied the bleaching agent to your teeth, he might want to use additional heat or light procedures to make the agent work faster. A usual treatment sitting might last from 30 minutes to an hour.

The second option that is available to you is that of home bleaching. You can buy a kit from any certified pharmacist or dentist. This kit would usually contain a hydrogen peroxide based bleaching gel or solution. This is meant to be applied to the tooth enamel. As a rule, a mouth guard is also included in the kit. You are supposed to place the solution or gel in the mouth guard and then follow the directions given with the equipment. The frequency of use and the duration of treatment for home bleaching vary. Overnight treatments work for a much shorter period. However, if you are, say, required to use the kit twice a day, the treatment might be effective for a longer period of time.

Whitening toothpastes work in a different way from bleaching techniques because they do not aim towards a permanent alteration of teeth color. They usually contain polishing agents. They work to remove some of the deeper stains, which a regular toothpaste might not effectively dislodge. You should always consult your dentist before going forth with any of these procedures – he is the best person to guide you and can advise you on the most effective treatment plan suited to your needs.

Copyright © Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Looking for the best teeth whitening products? Or perhaps you would like to learn more about specific tooth whitening options available such as the Bravo Whitening System. You’ll find that and more at Lustrous Teeth.com.

Modern dentistry has devised a number of ways to provide treatment options for people looking for teeth enhancement procedures. Methods may range from simple teeth whitening up to bracing and bridging. Some of these methods are discussed in the following sections of this article.

Teeth whitening
Teeth whitening basically employ peroxide-based materials to make the teeth appear whiter and cleaner. To achieve the desired enhancement of the teeth, the majority of dentists apply in-office or home-based teeth whitening methods.

Before the formal process of whitening, dentist will have to take out all the cavities from the teeth. It is important to note that the gums must be in considerable health before anything is started. Then the gums will be protected by some means of dental systems then gels will be applied on the teeth. To continue the process, many in-office-setting systems use high intensity lights coupled with 35% of peroxide to whiten teeth. The laser light will activate the peroxide by means of oxidization of stains on the surface of the teeth. After an hour, the teeth will become several shades lighter.

At-home setting system however makes use of 20% peroxide. This process is longer and may take up to two weeks.

Both work well in whitening the stains yet the ideal method is to use the combination of the two processes. By this, the shade of the teeth may improve up to 12 to 15 lighter shades.

Tooth-shaping
This process seems to be the most basic and will last only for half an hour. This works by reshaping the undesirable form of the teeth. The process can make pointed tooth rounded, long tooth short and to reshape the whole teeth in general to follow the shape of the lower teeth. The removal of a small amount of teeth enamel has no long term damage effect.

Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers or betterly known as veneers are porcelain wafers created to enhance the appearance of the front surface of the teeth and to hide damage. Veneers are much more conservative yet yield the same effects as that of dentures or false teeth.

Resin (Tooth Colored Fillings)
Resins are placed on the teeth to enhance its appearance for a short duration of time. This procedure helps repair chips and small cavities by inserting white fillings on places that require them. However, unlike with porcelain veneers, resins may discolor over time and may not render as much natural look.

Bonded-Bridge
Bonded-bridge is used to replace a missing tooth. It may be a porcelain or resin tooth that has metal or resin wings on each side. The process involves the removal of a small portion of the enamel on the teeth on each side of the one missing in order to "clip" the bonded-bridge in its place.

Gum-lifts
Gum-lifting or gingivectomy is a process that entails the removal of some portions of the gums to make them appear more even and to create an appearance of longer teeth. In effect, this is the cure for gummy smiles.

Braces
Braces or orthodontics help children and even young adults to correct the gaps between the teeth and to make them more even. This procedure covers two whole years and may require around twenty dental visits.

Cosmetic surgery requires more art than science because after all, it aims to beautify. For best results, dentists often recommend the use of two or more procedures in correcting the teeth.

Jeanette Pollock is a freelance author and website owner of cosmeticsurgery-101.com. Visit Jeanette’s site to learn more about cosmetic dentistry.

Pet dental care nowadays is a veterinary speciality in its own right. Just about anything your dentist or orthodontist can do for your teeth, a veterinary dentist can do for your pet’s teeth.

However, there is a lot you can do to help your pet maintain a healthy set of gnashers without having to break the bank.It is also very important that you pay attention to your pet’s dental health because it is an area that, if neglected, can lead not only to the obvious dental problems, but also indirectly to a range of non-dental health problems.

The thing to remember here is that, without your help, most pets (and we are talking primarily cats and dogs here) will start developing dental related problems before they are 2 years old. This has a lot to do with their diet and, in many cases, suburban lifestyle (i.e. they don’t get to do much "hunting, shooting and fishing"!).

The developing dental problems immediately put an extra load on the immune system,and consequently tend to shift the pet health pendulum away from "healthy" towards "unhealthy".

So what can you do to help maintain good pet dental health?

1) Check your pet’s teeth regularly (e.g.monthly) so that deviations from the normal can be spotted early and dealt with before a major problem develops. The added advantage of this is that the pet gets used to you handling it’s mouth area.

2) Feed a dry kibble diet. These types of diet are more abrasive on the teeth than tinned foods or home prepared diets, and tend to keep the teeth clean for longer periods.

3) Start regular brushing of your pet’s teeth using a pet specific toothpaste from when they are young. This will prevent or at least delay the onset of periodontal disease.

4) Make sure your pet has a yearly dental check up and that cleaning and scaling is undertaken on a regular basis.

All cats, dogs and some exotic pets are reliant on humans to ensure that they can eat happily for their whole live.

Pet dental care, like many other aspects of pet health, is the responsibility of the pet owner!

Keith Perrett is a qualified Veterinarian http://www.pet-health-for-humans.com

Taking care of your teeth, gums, and the rest of your mouth, including the repair or replacement of defective teeth is what defines dental care. It’s common to see a person suffering from dental diseases due to carelessness and lack of knowledge of good oral hygiene.

It is said that healthy gums and teeth are extremely important to keep your entire body system healthy and sound. Lack of proper care and a regular check up with your dentist may lead to several diseases like tooth decay, gingivitis, dental plaque, periodontal disease, mouth odor, etc..

Symptoms and prevention of tooth decay, gingivitis and periodontal disease:

1. Tooth Decay: The main cause of tooth decay is an acid base chemistry or an excess amount of acid. This is associated with sugar bugs, those who regularly eat sweet without brushing right after. Symptoms: First, a white spot appears on the tooth, which will lead to an early cavity if not dealt with. Cavities will begin with a light brown color on the tooth, and gradually become darker. Prevention:
• Be sure to brush twice daily, morning and before bedtime as well as after every meal.
• Floss daily (at least once), I know it’s a chore but it’s your smile we’re talking about here. (:–)
• Consult a dentist for a regular cleaning and examination. Try to follow their recommendations.
• Make sure retainers, dentures and other appliances are clean and don’t skip their recommended cleaning procedures.

2. Gingivitis & Periodontal Disease: Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums, whereas periodontal disease is the advanced stage of gum disease, which attacks the gums, bone and around the teeth. Symptoms: swollen gums, mouth sores, bright red appearance of gums and bleeding gums. Prevention:
• Brush your teeth twice daily.
• Gently floss the teeth once a day.
• Consult your dentist for further instructions.

Dental products to avoid:

There are many dental care products to avoid; these include strong antiseptic mouthwashes, bleaching agents, hydrogen peroxide, fluoride toothpastes, alcohol breath fresheners and other oral hygiene products. On the plus side they kill bacteria but also promote dental plaque which will make things worse in the end.

Products for dental care are: antioxidant tooth powder and probiotic mouthwash. Consult your dentist for the best products for your situation.

Children are more susceptible to dental problems. They are prone to eating chocolates, candies and sweets and thus get easily affected and suffer from tooth decay and other problems. So it is important for parents to know the basics of good dental care and guide your children accordingly.

These few simple steps can keep you and your family from severe pain, health hazards and will help us to keep smiling all through out the day.

Submitted by Chad McDonald to assist people needing American dental insurance or trying to find a dentist in Atlanta.

Using teeth whitening products, combined with proper dental care, will result in a wonderful smile. Along with teeth whitening, your smile makeover may include porcelain veneers, dental implants, porcelain crowns, dental bridges and gum shaping. If you’re looking for a quick way to take years off of your face, a teeth whitening treatment is definitely a winning bet!

Laser Teeth Whitening

This clinical treatment is costlier than all other methods of teeth whitening. Depending on the amount of discoloration, the laser teeth whitening procedure may need to be repeated over several sessions. Laser teeth whitening technique uses a laser, plasma arc light or a high intensity light source directed towards the teeth for the bleaching process. Laser Teeth Whitening might be pricier than teeth whitening kits or gels, but since the process can be performed in one hour, you’ll see immediate results. To prolong your in-office treatment, you might want to consider using an oxygenating oral rinse.

Check with your Dentist first!

When the popularity of teeth whitening procedures began to soar in the early 2000’s, patients turned to their dentist to have the procedure done…and you should still do the same today. Always check with your dentist before using any teeth whitening product. Before you decide to spend the time, energy, and money on teeth whitening products, ask your dentist what kind of results you should expect. A dentist can prescribe the teeth whitening procedure that is suitable for your gums and general oral health. The ADA also recommends that you consult your dentist before using teeth whitening products. As a precautionary note: always seek professional advice from a dentist who is experienced in teeth whitening procedures.

A Whiter Smile will take 10 years off!

For this reason, teeth whitening have become one of the most sought after cosmetic dental procedures today…and it’s not only related to big event such as weddings and anniversaries. People want a whiter smile so they can feel better about the way the look.

Teeth Whitening Gels

Before purchasing teeth whitening kits containing bleaching gel, you should confirm that the formula has 21 percent concentration and is carbamide peroxide based. Tray teeth whitening technique involves the use of a plastic tray that is filled with bleaching gel and then placed over your teeth. Carbamide peroxide is considered the most preferred for use in this formula, particularly in preferred gel forms of the teeth whitening composition. Generally, dental or teeth whitening compositions are peroxide-based, and are preferably used in gel form with the present formula. The high viscosity 22% whitening gel provides maximum adhesion to tooth surfaces for consistent teeth whitening with easy syringe/dental tray application.

Teeth Whitening Home Kits

Teeth whitening at home is a simple procedure. With the growing trend of teeth whitening, costs have gone down and more products have become available, making the procedure easier than ever before. Before buying a teeth whitening home kit, always check with your dentist so you can make the best possible choice. Don’t forget that the results of the DIY home teeth whitening kits gradually improve over the treatment period.

Always remember that your smile is your greatest asset!

Gisele Brosnan is an Editor for http://www.teeth-whitening.youthful-body.com. Our site is dedicated to providing information on teeth whitening and cosmetic dentistry. Visit our site often! Every day we compile useful tips to make understanding teeth whitening and cosmetic dentistry as simple as possible. © Copyright BrainCandy Factory. All rights reserved.

You may view dental insurance as a way for ravenous companies to take yet more money out of your pockets for something you do not really need with you being able to insure just about anything now. Good dental health is not only important for our appearance, it is important for our overall health too as problems in the mouth can often be a sign that something else needs looking at health-wise. A good dental insurance policy can help envelop the costs of dental treatment whether it is an emergency or a routine check up, in the sense that you never have to worry about the cost of keeping your mouth, teeth and gums healthy.

Many healthcare cash plan providers offer cover for dentistry fees up to a set limit within their policies. Now there are also a select number of companies who offer standalone dental insurance. The cover offered by the insurers vary, but depending who take you take a policy out with and whether it is part of a cash plan or a standalone dental insurance policy, you can get cover that will pay for routine treatment, dental emergencies and accidental dental injuries. Currently one insurer provides cover for serious dental problems such as reconstructive surgery including plastic surgery following a dental injury or oral cancer.

General types of coverage:

PPO Plans proffer patients with a group of dentists who’ve agreed to provide care to patients within the group at a discounted fee. In essence the dentist is keen to accomplish less for the view of additional patients. Self Insurance is a pretty option for businesses due to the fact that there is a strong potential for cost savings if services aren’t utilized in any given year. The intricacy with this plan is the administrative headache that often accompanies it.

Direct Reimbursement is analogous to self-insurance. Employees are welcome to choose their own dentist. The patient pays the dentist and is reimbursed by their employer. This approach is attractive to the employer because research shows that over 40% of employees may not require dental work in a given year providing a potential savings to the employer. Closed Panel plans are one of the most restrictive in that they confine the number of available providers. The patient doesn’t get to choose his or her own dentist.

Indemnity Programs are much like many health insurance plans that permit a choice in dentist. They also provide a limit on total coverage and co-pay options. Capitulation provides a contract for service arrangement that pays a specific provider a specified amount each month to cover all treatment. That fee is paid even if no services are rendered. Dental insurance can be affordable and a perk that will be appreciated by employees, but private coverage can also be obtained through a local broker or online.

Tamilselvi is a SEO copywriter for forhealthplans.com She has written many articles in various topics. For more information visit http://www.forhealthplans.com She can be reached at tamil@searchengingenie.com

Do you know your mouth?
Dental and medical experts describe the mouth as a chewing device whose main function is the ingestion and mastication of food that keeps the body alive. The fancy name that they give to this is the masticatory system which simply means chewing system. No one can deny that this is one of the mouth’s functions and an important one at that. But how this underrates and devalues a truly wondrous organ, - your magnificent mouth. Come with me on a short sightseeing tour and experience your mouth as so much more than a chewing device!!

What is Your Mouth?
Go to the nearest mirror and offer yourself a little time out to observe. Just allow a few minutes of time and space to reflect on your reflection. Look at your mouth in the mirror and allow me to guide you on a tour of self discovery…

Open your mouth and see the gateway to your deepest organs of digestion providing nutrients to the living biology of your each and every cell.

Take a breath and experience your mouth as the gateway to the heart/lung exchange of precious gases that sustain the living biology of each and every cell.

Stick out your tongue and marvel at this versatile muscular organ with the ability to discern taste and texture even at the molecular level. Roll your tongue around your mouth appreciating how its changing shape can control the movement of food, initiate the mechanisms of swallowing, and modify the sounds of your voice.

Lick your lips and marvel at your saliva that is as complex a tissue as blood, providing enzymes, antibodies, barrier and protection for the mouth tissues as well as a medium for digestion and flow. Purse your lips in different ways and do a range of different smiles and gestures with your lips and notice how expressive and versatile are the doors to your magnificent mouth.

Smile and see the beautiful pearly pillars of your teeth which sparkle in and reflect the light. These pillars of effective strength allow you the ability to cut your life sustenance into manageable bite-size pieces and prepare it for the journey of assimilation, renewal and repair for the cells of your biology.

Now greet yourself with the distinctive and original sound of your own voice. Make the sounds that are your unique characteristic vocal vibrations and marvel at the originality, the versatility and the notes. Speak your own name and listen to the sounding of yourself by yourself. This is your organ of vocal expression, the instrument that allows you to express what you feel on the inside and communicate these feelings to those around you. What a gift this voice is! Without this transmitter, your communication with the outside world is so severely hampered. Listen to your sounds and celebrate your own original song. Sing your song to yourself and applaud the performance. No other anywhere on the planet can do this as you do it. It is unique and precious and of inestimable value.

Take time to feel appreciation and gratitude for the wonderful gift of you. Purse you lips and offer a kiss to yourself in appreciation of this precious gift of you and your Magnificent Mouth.

Your Magnificent Mouth is nothing less than a vast Treasure Trove of Tissues Types in Formidable Function and Synchronous Synergy, just one part of the Magnificent Miracle that is You.

My name is Philip Christie. I qualified as a Dental Surgeon at Trinity College, Dublin (Ireland) in 1980 and completed a Master’s Programme in Dental Science, again at Trinity College Dublin, by research in 1995. I have been working full time in dental care either in general practice or specialist practice since qualification. My main interest is and always has been prevention.

My real qualification is 23 years experience in dealing with real people and their problems face to face, as a clinical practitioner.

I am the author of “Something To Chew On: A Mouth Map To Health”. It is a Health Manual with a difference. Different because it is designed for the future and for success. It is different because it gives the power back where it belongs, to the person’s own self. Different because it prevents problems at source and saves on treatment and cost!

Philip.christie3@ntlworld.ie
http://www.peopleaspartnersinmedicine.com

You cannot be serious!
This is how many of my patients react when I tell them that tooth decay is a stress disease. It seems so far away from stress as a concept that it sounds absurd! How can you possibly connect the rotting of teeth with this ‘stress’ idea. Stress is probably the most talked about subject in popular health literature as well as increasingly in the more academic health literature. This is for very good reason. People have rightly begun to associate levels of stress in modern times with ill-health. People have noticed that stress not only affects the quality of our lives but have also contributes to the deterioration of the quality of our health in general. ‘Stress-related’ illness has become a password for modern times, - the bane of modern living.

What is Stress?
As is common with subjects that get a lot of airing, all sorts of notions can get mixed in with the discussion and misunderstandings become very commonplace.

In one sense it is extremely difficult to define exactly what is stress. Many definitions of stress have been put forward and some have become fashionable. Unfortunately the fashionable ones, usually the most accepted, are often the least accurate.

The most obvious example of this misunderstanding is equating stress with “busyness “ or being too busy. This allows us to blame our circumstances (job, family, etc.) and we may feel we can do nothing about it. Yet we all know that it is perfectly possible to be extremely busy but perfectly at ease with our situation. Indeed we have all been in situations where although we have had a lot to do, we nonetheless feel happy and content with our lot.

Stress relates to feelings. If you are very busy, you might feel very happy that your business is flourishing. But if you are very busy and you feel that this is being caused unfairly by another who is not carrying his duties as he should, you might feel resentment at the amount of work that you are being asked to do. In both situations you are very busy but in one case you are feeling happy and in the other you are feeling deep resentment. You could say that stress is really an expression of our emotional well being. Stress then could be said to be any form of negative emotion or feeling such as fear, worry, doubt, anxiety, bitterness, regret, frustration, resentment, anger, rage etc.

And what has all that that to do with my rotten tooth, pray tell? Science tells us that the major factor in tooth decay is what they call ‘sugar frequency’. This is the number of times per day that we put sugar (sweet things) into the mouth. Each time we use sweet, the carbohydrate (sugar) is broken down into acid by the bacteria in the mouth. The acid environment thus produced tends to demineralize the enamel (or dentine) of the tooth. By repeatedly and or constantly producing the acid environment for the teeth, defects are created in the tooth surface. These defects are populated by bacteria which thrive in the acid conditions and the cavity (decaying defect) is produced. The process continues and the cavity gets bigger.

But what has that to do with stress?
Ask yourself, why do you think a person would tend to have a high frequency of carbohydrate in their daily diet? What does the scientific term ‘high frequency’ translate to, in human terms? Simply put the high frequency is a dependence, a kind of addictive behaviour or habit. The person uses sugar (sweet) as a means of comfort or reward.

Naturally then, when we are feeling upset, hurt or under pressure in some way (stressed) we are much more likely to feel the need to comfort ourselves. And obviously if sweet things are what we use to comfort ourselves then our ‘sugar frequency’ will be high. It is that simple! Such is the simple direct relationship between stress and tooth decay.

Stress (feelings of discomfort or upset) leads to increased desire for sweet things which leads to an increase in ‘frequency of carbohydrate’ in the diet and the ‘high frequency’ of carbohydrate (sugar) in the diet provides the acid conditions that allow the formation of the defects in the tooth and the initiation of the decay process.

As I said “Tooth Decay is a Stress Disease!”

My name is Philip Christie. I qualified as a Dental Surgeon at Trinity College, Dublin (Ireland) in 1980 and completed a Master’s Programme in Dental Science, again at Trinity College Dublin, by research in 1995. I have been working full time in dental care either in general practice or specialist practice since qualification. My main interest is and always has been prevention.

My real qualification is 23 years experience in dealing with real people and their problems face to face, as a clinical practitioner.

I am the author of “Something To Chew On: A Mouth Map To Health”. It is a Health Manual with a difference. Different because it is designed for the future and for success. It is different because it gives the power back where it belongs, to the person’s own self. Different because it prevents problems at source and saves on treatment and cost!

Philip.christie3@ntlworld.ie
http://www.peopleaspartnersinmedicine.com

Teeth whitening can be a highly effective way of lightening the natural colour of your teeth, not removing any of the tooth surface. It can not make a complete colour change; but it will lighten the existing shade.

There are a number of reasons why you might want to get your teeth whitened. Artists were some of the first to do it, and it was tax deductible for them! Yes, they needed it and many other public persons followed.

Very few persons have brilliant-white teeth, and our teeth usually become more discoloured as we get older.

Your teeth can also be stained on the surface through food and drinks. Tea, coffee, red wine and blackcurrant make a difference not only in the short run. And smoking do stain teeth. Some people may have staining under the surface, which can be caused by certain antibiotics or tiny cracks in the teeth which take up stains.

Professional bleaching is the most common form of tooth whitening and your dentist will be able to tell you if you are suitable for the treatment. First the dentist will put a rubber shield or a gel on your gums to protect the soft tissue. They will then apply the whitening product to your teeth, using a specially made tray which fits into your mouth like a gum-shield.

The ‘active ingredient’ in the product is usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. As the active ingredient is broken down, oxygen gets into the enamel on the teeth and the tooth colour is made lighter. The total treatment can be done within three to four weeks.

First, you will need two or three visits to the dentist. Your dentist will need to make a mouth-guard and will take impressions for this. Once your dentist has started the treatment, you will need to continue the treatment at home. This means regularly applying the whitening product over two to four weeks, for 30 minutes to one hour at a time.

However, there are now some new products which can be applied for up to eight hours at a time. The treatment can be performed when you sleep. This means a satisfactory result can be achieved in as little as one week.

There is now laser whitening, even called power whitening. During this procedure a rubber dam is put over your teeth to protect the gums, and a bleaching product is painted onto your teeth. Then a light or laser is shone on the teeth to activate the chemical. The light speeds up the chemical reaction of the whitening product and the colour change can be achieved more quickly using this procedure. The effect of laser whitening is good, teeth can make up to five or six shades lighter.

Your dentist will need to check your teeth to make sure that you are suitable for the treatment. This procedure is fast and usually takes about one hour.

The effects of whitening can last up to three years and will vary from person to person. Of course the effect is less likely to last as long if you smoke, or eat or drink products that can stain your teeth. Some people may find that their teeth become sensitive to cold during or after the treatment. The symptoms are usually temporary and should disappear within a few days of the treatment finishing.

Home kits are cheaper but because tooth whitening is a complicated procedure you should only have it done by a dentist, after a thorough examination and assessment of your teeth. Home kits that you buy over-the-counter will not be able to lighten your teeth noticeably. And some contain mild acids and others are abrasive. This can cause ulcers and damage to the gums if the product is not used properly.

There are many whitening toothpastes on the market. Although they do not affect the natural colour of your teeth, they may be effective at removing staining and therefore may improve the overall appearance of your teeth. Whitening toothpaste may also help the effect last, once your teeth have been professionally whitened.

We recommend that you look for an accreditation symbol on the packaging of oral care products. This is a guarantee that the claims made about the product have been scientifically and clinically checked by an independent panel of experts.

As you know many dead teeth go discoloured after a root filling. If the tooth has been root treated, the canal (which previously contained the nerve) may be reopened. Then the whitening product is applied and will work from the inside to whiten the tooth.

You can do a lot to keep your teeth white by cutting down on the amount of food and drink you have that can stain teeth. Stopping smoking can also help prevent discolouring and staining.

Take care of your teeth - brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Cut down on how often you have sugary snacks and drinks and visit your dentist at least once a year.

Keith George always writes about valuable news & reviews. A related resource is Teeth Whitening. Further information can be found at Tips & News.