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Get Your Teeth Whitened to Make Your Smile Shine

Over the last five years, the number of people looking to whiten their smiles has exploded. People who are lining up for procedures such as laser teeth whitening are even turning to dietary supplements for teeth whitening to maximize their oral health and appearances.

While teeth whitening methods have been around for decades, modern techniques are faster, more readily available and less damaging to teeth than ever before.

Teeth Whitening of the Past
In the past, moderate whitening of the teeth was accomplished by simply polishing the teeth with attachments on high-speed drills at the dentist's office. Then researchers discovered that patients could apply strong bleaching agents (peroxides) to their teeth every night using custom-made mouthpieces. While this technique produced good results and whitened teeth while people slept, it damaged the teeth, causing them to become brittle.

Today's Teeth Whitening Products
Today, teeth whitening can be done at home, although people will often have to wait a good deal of time before they see results from whitening strips and other over-the-counter methods of teeth whitening.

Today, dentists can whiten teeth in about an hour using bleaching agents and lasers. The dentist simply applies the whitening agent to the teeth and then uses laser beams to activate the whiteners, producing nearly instantaneous results. These products produce such remarkable results that some people choose to use over-the-counter (OTC) methods to whiten their smiles, so friends, co-workers and family won't immediately notice a huge difference.

OTC teeth whitening strips use the same bleaching agents as the products the dentists use in their offices. However, they contain lower concentrations of peroxides. If you choose to use an OTC product that comes with a bleaching agent that you use in conjunction with a mouthpiece, use extreme caution, as the agent could cause your teeth to de-mineralize and become brittle. Always read and follow the directions on the product's package to avoid problems.

Dietary Supplements for Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening can be hard on your teeth. To avoid complications from using strong bleaching agents on their teeth, many people are now turning to supplements to help protect their pearly whites before, during and after bleaching procedures. You can use Vitamin C, calcium, phosphorous and fluoride to help maintain strong teeth.

Many of the new OTC whitening products on the market actually contain calcium, phosphorus and fluoride to help strengthen teeth and lessen tooth sensitivity. Supplements can also play an important role in overall oral hygiene and can help fight gum disease. Vitamin C promotes healthy gums, as does co-enzyme Q10. Vitamin A and Vitamin D help your teeth absorb the calcium they need to stay strong.

Teeth whitening is wildly popular and practical in this modern era, but you should use common sense when choosing the right procedures so you don't damage your teeth.