Your smile is an important part of your appearance. You want to make a good first impression, so what does your smile say about you?
It is common for teeth to become stained over time, gradually developing a yellow tint that you may not notice right away. But it begins to show up in pictures and when you look in the mirror and you realize that it’s time to do something about it.
What is the best way to whiten your teeth? With so many whitening products available in stores and online it can be difficult to find something that is safe and effective. Here’s what you should know about popular teeth whitening agents.
Whitening Toothpaste
Almost every toothpaste brand has a whitening toothpaste on the market. Whitening toothpaste contains a variety of whitening agents including baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and carbamide peroxide. Peroxide is a bleaching agent and baking soda is abrasive to scrub stains off of the surface of your teeth. The problem with these products is that the abrasiveness of baking soda and the corrosiveness of peroxide can wear down and weaken your tooth enamel. And on top of that, they are not very effective.
Whitening Strips
Whitening strips typically contain either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. You wrap the strips around your teeth so that the bleaching agent is held against the surface of your teeth for a period of time. Whitening strips may be more effective than toothpaste, but potentially harmful to your tooth enamel. They often lead to tooth sensitivity.
Charcoal
Charcoal that is made for teeth whitening purposes comes in a powder form or toothpaste. It consists of charcoal and other natural ingredients that are super heated and refined. Like baking soda, charcoal is abrasive, making it effective at scrubbing stains off of the surface of your teeth. But the abrasiveness can damage the enamel on your teeth, wearing it away and creating an uneven surface that encourages the buildup of plaque.
Professional Teeth Whitening
If you want a teeth whitening product that is both safe and effective, professional teeth whitening through your dentist’s office is the way to go. In-office whitening provides dramatic results in just one treatment. Your dentist carefully administers the bleaching agent to achieve the desired shade for a whiter, yet natural looking smile.
Take-home treatments provided by your dentist allow you to whiten your teeth more gradually at home. These are more effective than whitening strips you can purchase in the store because the bleaching agents are powerful, yet gentle on your teeth. You will also receive a custom made tray that fits your teeth comfortably.
A combination of in-office and take-home treatments offer longer lasting results as the take-home treatments allow you to touch up your whitening between in-office treatments.
The Final Verdict on Charcoal
Getting back to the original question, does charcoal whiten teeth? The answer is yes, charcoal does whiten teeth, just not as effectively as professional treatments and with potential damage to your teeth and a higher risk of decay. Charcoal products may cost less up front, but dental procedures to restore damaged or decayed teeth will cost more in the long run.
Whiter teeth are not necessarily healthier teeth. The keys to maintaining healthy teeth are good dental hygiene and regular, quality dental care from a professional.
The Smile Architects Provide Teeth Whitening Treatment
Now that we’ve established that professional teeth whitening is the safe and effective choice for your teeth, you’ll need a dentist who can provide it for you. The Smile Architects offer multiple teeth whitening products for both in-office and take-home treatments, including top brands like KöR and Zoom!
Are you ready for a whiter smile? Call 704-875-1621 or contact us today to schedule an appointment.