An easy way to turn your ordinary smile into a captivating one is to whiten your teeth. There’s just nothing more beautiful than a bright smile. For this reason, a lot of patients are flocking to have their teeth whitened either through in-house whitening procedures or through teeth whitening kits. But before you get started with your quest to having white teeth, here are a couple of things that you have to consider:

1. Talk to your dentist.

Before you even start picking out teeth whitening kits, it’s always a good idea to talk to your dentist first. Remember that you’ll be using a bleaching agent which can potentially irritate your pulp if you do not have an intact enamel layer. At the same time, the bleaching agent, such as peroxide, can damage the enamel layer if it is not applied properly. Also, dental works are not susceptible to bleaching so your veneers or fillings might become more conspicuous as the natural dental tissues surrounding the dental work lightens up. Whether you decide to do the teeth whitening by yourself, your dentist can give you ideas on how you can avoid potential problems.

2. Only buy teeth whitening products of well-known brands.

If you choose products of major brands, then you do not have to worry about lack of effectiveness as well as unforeseen reactions such as enamel erosion and allergic reactions. If you’re really bent on using over-the-counter whitening products, then ask your dentist for brands that he or she can recommend.

3. Look for the ADA seal.

Dental products have to go through approval from the FDA as well as the ADA. Products which have the ADA seal are deemed not only to be effective but also safe for use. If you cannot find any product with a seal, then you can ask your dentist for recommendations of products which are known to be safe and effective. At the same time, if you’re going to choose a tray-based system, then make sure to pick out a flexible mouthpiece which fits snugly around your teeth.

4. Avoid dark drinks and foods.

Whitening results are not permanent so the more frequent that you expose your teeth to dark substances, the more likely it will be that you’ll stain your teeth back to its previous condition. Some of the drinks which are notorious for staining teeth include sodas, teas and coffee. Gargling with water after contact with staining compounds can help stall the staining process.

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