These Are The Best Dentist-Recommended Ways To Whiten Your Teeth

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Most people would love to have whiter teeth, but actually getting them without spending a pretty penny can be a challenging. To make matters more complicated, a quick Google search yields tons of results, some of which are not truly effective. So how do you actually know what works and what doesn’t?

In a video for Business Insider, dentist Dr. Ada Cooper reveals everything you need to know about teeth whitening. Here are some important take-aways.

1. Start With Toothpaste

Dr. Cooper recommends getting an over-the-counter tooth-whitening toothpaste. These toothpastes can remove surface stains from things like coffee, tea and wine. It’s great to have on hand for daily use, helping to keep teeth whiter over time.

toothpaste photo
Flickr | Kristopher Avila

2. You Need Peroxide For Deeper Whitening

If you want to really change the color of your teeth and not just remove surface stains, you’ll need to get treated with something that contains peroxide. An in-office whitening can accomplish this. Talk to your dentist about this treatment method.

3. You Can Use At-Home Strips

In-office whitening isn’t the only way to use peroxide-based lighteners. Whitening strips that you wear at home work as well. Learn more about the best products on the market here.

crest white strips photo
Getty Images | Frazer Harrison

4. Try An Activated Charcoal Paste

If you’re looking for a natural remedy, you can try using activated charcoal paste. Dentist Joseph Banker explained how to take advantage of its detoxifying benefits to Women’s Health magazine. It turns out it’s as easy as mixing activated charcoal with a small amount of water and applying to the teeth as you would toothpaste. Leave it for two minutes, and then rinse your mouth clean. You should start to see subtle results over time.

Screen shot 2017-02-27 at 6.24.09 PM
Amazon

Natural Whitening Tooth & Gum Powder With Activated Charcoal, $11.95, Amazon

5. White Teeth Don’t Indicate Healthier Teeth

Having white teeth is purely an aesthetic preference. If you have healthy teeth, their color doesn’t really matter.

6. See Your Dentist Before You Begin

If you have cavities, crowns or large fillings, you’ll want to check with your dentist before you begin lightening, as it may not be a good fit for your teeth.

dentist photo
Getty Images | Sean Gallup

Check out the whole video here:

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About the Author
Carina Wolff
Carina is a health and wellness journalist based in Los Angeles. When she’s not writing, doing yoga, or exploring mountains and beaches, she spends her time cooking and creating recipes for her healthy food blog, Kale Me Maybe. Carina is also an ongoing writer for Bustle, Reader's Digest, FabFitFun, and more.

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