Monday Lifehack of the Week: “The Best Ways to Increase the Whiteness in Your Teeth”

–  Use whitening toothpaste:  Some work better than others, but hydroxyapatite (HAp) toothpaste is the only whitening toothpaste that can basically whiten teeth from the inside out. It literally “fills in” the space in your enamel for a whiter, brighter appearance.

–  Switch to an electric toothbrush:  Oscillating electric toothbrushes are generally the best for teeth whitening compared to sonic-powered toothbrushes and just remove the surface stains from teeth more effectively.

– Get a custom whitening gel tray:  The best, longest-lasting, most sustainable way to whiten your teeth is with custom whitening gel trays. These whitening gel trays are made and custom-fitted by your dentist based on unique impressions of your teeth. You can keep your tray indefinitely, as long as your teeth stay in the same place. You’ll purchase whitening gel to use at home (it keeps in the fridge) anytime you want to whiten your teeth.

–Apply whitening strips:  Whitening strips are small pieces of flexible plastic coated with a whitening gel.  To use these products, a strip for the bottom and one for the top are molded around the teeth and left for 5-30 minutes. Most whitestrips are intended for use over a few weeks, but some can whiten teeth at home in one day.  Keep in mind that some strips may damage or irritate sensitive gum tissue.

– Get a professional tooth whitening treatment: For teeth whitening at your dentist’s office, expect 1-3 sessions of 30-60 minutes each.  During each session, a high concentration of carbamide or hydrogen peroxide (20-43%) will be “painted” onto the teeth. A polymerization light is used to activate the gel, and it’s reapplied several times over the session.