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Skip the DIY Teeth Whitening Tricks & Visit Your Indianapolis Dentist

September 9, 2017

west86officeDentists are shocked by some of the DIY teeth whitening methods you can find on the internet. Crushed strawberries, charcoal, gargling peroxide. While these techniques might have limited impact for people with very mild dental staining, the results are completely unpredictable, and you may even damage your teeth or soft tissues. Rather than taking a risk on questionable DIY teeth whitening tricks, leave it to the professionals, and schedule a teeth whitening consultation with an Indianapolis cosmetic dentist instead.

Causes of Tooth Staining

Before beginning a professional teeth whitening plan, your cosmetic dentist will want to determine the underlying cause of your tooth staining. Some of the common causes of dental discoloration include:

  • Consuming darkly colored foods and drinks
  • Aging that leads to thinning enamel and a yellowed appearance
  • Naturally darker tooth color
  • Fluorosis staining from over consumption of fluoride
  • Tetracycline stains caused by taking certain medications during dental development

Professional Teeth Whitening

A skilled cosmetic dentist can provide effective at-home teeth whitening that will ensure you get the results you want while protecting your smile from damage. Custom take-home teeth whitening kits include professional grade whitening gel and a personalized application tray. These trays are crafted to fit your unique smile, so you won’t have to worry about gel leaking out or neutralizing saliva getting in to stop the whitening process in its tracks. Most patients can achieve smiles up to ten shades brighter in just a few weeks of short, daily applications.

Some Tips to Keep You Smiling

While DIY teeth whitening methods are typically more trouble than they’re worth, here are some simple behavioral changes and cosmetic tricks you can use to make your smile sparkle:

  • Start with the basics – make sure you’re brushing and flossing daily and visiting the dentist at least two times each year.
  • Avoid the stains – drink dark colored beverages through a straw when possible. You can also try not to sip dark drinks all day. Instead, consume them in short bursts and drink water directly after to rinse your mouth.
  • Get a tan – if your skin is darker, your teeth will appear lighter by comparison. We don’t want anyone hitting the beach or tanning bed to expose their skin to too much UV, but using a bronzer or getting a spray tan might be worth a shot.
  • Brighten your lips – use a red, blue, or other dark lip stick color. Your teeth will look immediately brighter.

Meet the Indy Dental Group Team

At Indy Dental Group, we’re always hard at work helping our patients learn to love their smiles, and we know you’ll enjoy visiting us in our West 86th Street location. If you’re new to Indianapolis or just looking for the right dental office to call home, look no further. Give our team a call. We’ll be happy to answer your questions, schedule an appointment, and walk you through our new patient process over the phone. We even offer emergency dentistry services, so if one of your DIY teeth whitening treatments goes wrong, we’re here to help.

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