Finding the Balance Between an Afforable Option Vs Something That Works

When researching and trying out different teeth whitener products and treatments, you are either spending too much money or the product you get just does not work at all.

The Idol White teeth whitening pen can be applied easily. All you have to do is brush your teeth as normal; twist the pen to release the gel and apply the gel to your teeth twice a day. Even dentists are recommending this product.

You don’t have to visit the dentist; use any strips, gels or trays. It applies quickly in just seconds. The design allows you to carry it in a purse conveniently. The results you are looking for from a dentist can also be obtained from the Idol White teeth whitening pen.

Finding What Works for You

The Idol White manufacturers do understand people being hesitant in trying something new especially when they have spent money in the past for a product that didn’t even work. Because of this, Idol White is offering a free trial of their product, but only for a limited time. The free trial will give you the opportunity to see all the benefits for yourself.

If you do order the free trial and you find that the product was able to whiten your teeth—then you have just received a free teeth whitening treatment; however, if for any reason you are not satisfied, there was no risk involved and no financial loss. If this product didn’t work—I’m pretty sure the company would not be offering a free trial. This company has more on the line than you do just for trying it.

You can sign up to receive a free trial at http://www.idolwhite.com. Also, while you are there, you can check out the customer, celebrity and media testimonials. After receiving your pen, go ahead and apply it as the directions specify; after seeing the results, you will be pleased that you did.

Whitening Gels – The best results come from getting a fitted tray. You can either obtain these from your local dentist, a company who sells them, or you can get a mouth guard from a sports store. The mouth guard would need to be boiled to fit with your mouth. The best results would come from the fitted tray, but the mouth guard will work just as well. You will be ultimately placing the gel directly on your teeth.

Whitening gel can be purchased from your dentist (but they typically won’t sell it unless you purchased the tray as well); or you can get it from the company who sold you the tray. Some local stores carry these tooth whitening products, such as the gel, the tray and the syringe that is needed, but you have to do your homework, as some gels may not be as effective.

The bleach can definitely cause some irritation to the gum area—so you have to make sure your tray is fitted to your teeth properly and cut around the tooth line area so that the gel cannot extend past to the gums. If you happen to cause some gum damage from bleaching—it is temporary and will go away as long as you stop bleaching.

A good percentage of bleach to purchase would be 16%; any lower than this can take quite a long time to bleach and any higher can be too strong and cause you to have tooth sensitivity.

Sometimes people like to compare tooth whitening products by bleaching one arch at a time and analyze the results of each.

Tooth Whitening Tray – After purchasing your gel and tray, you should be able to place a bead size of gel in each tooth area on the tray. You can apply this with a syringe. Once you do this, you can take the bottom of the syringe to spread the gel in each area of the tray. You don’t have to worry about covering every space because when the tray is fitted, the gel will spread to each crevice on the tooth anyway. You may have to learn by a few mistakes on how much is too much in regards to the gel. You will know you put too much gel in the tray when the gel oozes out the edges when fitted in your mouth.

Should You Go for the Professional Option?

Of course with all of these options, the home method of applying the gel to your teeth will not be as strong as the method used at a dentist; however, if you follow the directions correctly—you can get good use out this product without the expensive cost. Think about it—after spending all of that money on a professional to whiten your teeth—you still have a chance of discoloration through your eating habits, in which the dentist recommends you to do home touch ups anyway. Just something to think about.

During this process, the teeth’s whitening occurs from the professional strength formula gel that contains special crystals. As the gel is on the teeth, a special light penetrates the gel crystals for activation. As the light penetrates the crystals, the crystals then are able to move into the enamel of your teeth.

It takes about one two hours for the complete procedure. The teeth can be whitened up to 10 different shades. The laser tooth whitening process is very similar for both laser teeth whitening manufacturers Rembrandt and Zoom!, however, the cost of this service from dentist to dentist can vary.

Depending on the color of the teeth and if there are any stains to remove, the above procedure will be repeated. The teeth can be stained from coffee, cigarettes, and medications such as tetracycline.

The laser tooth whitening method is non-invasive and will not harm any earlier dental work. You will first go through a simple examination to check your oral hygiene as well as your dental work. If there are any repairs that are needed before the laser procedure, your dentist will let you know then.

Dentists should not numb the gum area because the anesthetic can cause this procedure to not be safe. A dental dam can be used to help prevent the gel from going beyond the tooth area. If the patient experiences sensitivity during treatment, the gel may have slipped past the dental dam; in which the doctor would not have been warned this if the patient was numb.

If You Have Sensitive Teeth

People who have sensitive teeth will be able to go one time for the laser procedure without having to repeat the need for continuous bleaching. There is also a milder bleaching gel formula that can be used.

This method is most popular among people with sensitive teeth and is common for many types of patients.
The effects of laser tooth whitening can last approximately 3 years; however, good oral hygiene will have to be maintained as staining materials can affect the work that was completed. In the instance the teeth have been stained again, it is recommended by doctors for the patient to do an over-the-counter touch up or a take-home teeth whitening product.

Some of the side effects of this treatment include gum sensitivity, as well as continued whitening of the teeth for the next several days. That is why it is important to avoid anything that could stain a white T-shirt for that time frame. It has been noted that the gum sensitivity side effect can be limited with anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or aspirin.

The most difficult to bleach teeth are the dark blue, green, brown stains. These types of stains are usually caused by medication. You can get the best stain fighting results from the yellow slightly brown colored teeth.

Depending upon the type of teeth whitening you receive—results can be seen within an hour to sometimes a week. However, the entire process can take from one week to several months depending on where the stains have originated. If the tooth is really difficult to bleach, the process can actually take up to three years and sometimes longer (and this generally depends on the person and how they maintain their teeth).

The Risks of Bleaching

The side effects of teeth whitening bleaching can be from tenderness in the soft tissue areas, such as the gums and tongue areas, and possibly pain. It is also possible to over-bleach the teeth—when this happens, the tooth will have a translucent effect and appear slightly gray in the light.

In regards to home bleaching, there is just a small risk of ingesting the bleaching gel and in worst cases can cause you to vomit, have nausea and a burning sensation in which you would need to call a doctor immediately.

Teeth whitening bleaching gel can remain unrefrigerated for up to 1 year and 2 years refrigerator.

Does Bleaching Cause Cancer?

In regards to some reports stating that there is a link between teeth bleaching and cancer, the American Dental Association has proved that the teeth bleaching and cancer findings are incorrect. The ADA states, “carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide chemicals generated in the whitening process aren’t carcinogens in the mouth”. The ADA has gone on to monitor the effects of bleaching a little over a decade. The ADA had to make sure that teeth whitening was defined and categorized properly to avoid any confusion.

Other Methods of Whitening

Teeth whitening can happen in one or two ways. You can achieve whitening by bleaching the tooth, which actually changes the overall color of the tooth; or you can use non-bleaching products, which contains certain ingredients that help to remove stains.

Overall in my findings, I have come to the conclusion that bleaching is safe as long as applied correctly and not over-used in one application. Some people may be more sensitive than others to the bleaching agents.

Professional Treatments

The teeth whitening cost for professional services can vary from dentist to dentist as the value of such treatment is very subjective. If the dentist feels that their treatment should have an at-home follow-up method completed, then the cost will be much higher. Dentists provide laser services, bleaching treatments, porcelain veneers, and at home products. These services can range from $400 to $1,500 where the at home products are the least expensive and the laser/veneer options being the most expensive.

If a staff member performs the majority of this treatment, then the cost will be at the low end. Also—depending upon equipment that is used, such as the laser lighting and the degree of whitening needed, these factors can make the cost of the service increase. If there is much competition in your area—the costs can pretty much fluctuate. Dental financing is usually provided for this type of service, however, many employer benefits will not cover this cosmetic procedure.

Home Treatments

Teeth whitening cost for over the counter treatments can range from $1.00 to $100 depending on the product. There are a variety of products, which can include brush on whiteners, whitening toothpaste, whitening floss, toothpaste with abrasives, toothpaste with peroxide, chewing gum, baking soda and whitening strips.

An at home remedy utilizing baking soda can cost you around $2.00.

Whitening strips range from $10 to $80 and must be used regularly in order to see good results.

Baby boomers and “30 something’s” are finding it more difficult to keep their teeth white and are looking for lower costing alternatives considering the economy and unemployment rates increasing, however, people still want a quality product and effective treatment.

You can get very economical products over the counter if you are trying to cut costs, but many of these products do not work. If you want an effective low cost treatment without having to risk paying too much, you can go to http://www.idolwhite.com for a free trial of Idol White and try it out for yourself. There is no financial risk involved and you have the chance to try out a wonderful product in the convenience of your home. This home treatment does work. You can see for yourself—all you have to do is carefully follow the directions and you will have white teeth in no time.

Whitening Toothpaste: One of these treatments that are really simple to do comes from the use of whitening toothpaste. Whitening toothpaste should be applied to your toothbrush as any other toothpaste and then brush your teeth as normal. This will help to remove any exterior particles or stains from your teeth.

After you remove any surface material, you should rinse your toothbrush and apply some more whitening toothpaste. Make sure the toothpaste is moistened with water. As you start to brush, move your brush in a circular movement on your front teeth. This action begins the deep cleansing process. Continue on each side for 15 seconds each.

Finally, you can rinse your mouth out with water and then complete a final rinse with either a mouthwash or a mouth rinse to remove any additional bacterial particles. And of course, try not to swallow any of the product as this can cause your stomach to be upset.

Some other teeth whitening treatments available are the teeth whitening strips and the professionally made veneers.

Whitening Strips: Teeth whitening strips can be found at any supermarket. After purchasing, you will see in the box an upper and lower strip. You will need to take out the upper strip and apply the glue side to the upper set of teeth. Then you will take out the lower strip and apply it the same way as the upper strip, but it should be applied to the lower set of teeth.

Take your toothbrush and using the backside, flatten the strips you just placed on your teeth. You may need a wet washcloth to wipe the sides of your mouth as you are applying the strips.

You will need to wait at least 30 minutes for this product to work. Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly of any residue. Do not rinse your mouth until 30 minutes have elapsed. If you leave the strips on for too long—you could actually discolor your teeth. After 30 minutes is up, you then need to rinse.

Whitening Veneers: An alternative to teeth whitening treatments would be the placement of dental veneers, sometimes called porcelain veneers. These are actually made by a dentist and can be either placed on a few discolored teeth or it can cover the entire discolored area. The downside to this is that it is one of the most expensive dental procedures (next to laser whitening) and the veneers can still become discolored with certain foods.

When it comes to teeth whitening, research testimonials on the product you choose to use and pick a method that is best for you. As long as it is done correctly, teeth whitening can occur with many less expensive options than the professional methods.

If you are someone who has to be in front of people the majority of time, you don’t want your yellow teeth to make the first impression. Having discolored teeth can make it difficult to smile, which in turn can contribute to low self-esteem.

Sometimes people, in their school years, may have not had a problem with whitening of teeth at that time—but it is possible that they dealt with an over-bite, extra teeth, an under-bite, braces, a head gear, and so on. These issues do not make it any better when that person gets older and has to deal with discolored teeth. Those feelings of insecurity have a high potential of creeping back.

What Causes Discolouration of Teeth?

Lets look over some of the reasons why we get discoloration of teeth in the first place.

Age – Your teeth go through some wear and tear over the years as well as stain buildup.
If you are teenager who has slight discoloration, teeth whitening can occur immediately since there should be no excessive buildup at that point. Teeth have the potential of showing some slight yellow discoloration for people in their twenties. It can go from yellow to brown while you are in your forties and then after that, stains can be increasingly difficult to remove.

Intrinsic Stain – Stains that form from the inside of your teeth. This type of stain can be a result of exposure to tretracyline, trauma, age, and ingested fluoride.

Extrinsic Stain- These stains are superficial and can come from tobacco products, dark colored beverages, such as, coffee and tea, and just normal wear and tear. These stains are not as hard to remove, but if left untreated, it can result in it becoming deeply embedded in the enamel of the tooth.

Starting Color – This color can range from a yellow brown color to a green grey and it deepens over time. We all are born with this. The yellow brown color better responds with bleaching treatments.

Eating Habits – Some foods over a period of time can cause your teeth to stain. The colors of these foods range from dark brown to red. Dark colored beverages, such as cola, teas, and coffee can produce a great amount of staining. Other types of foods that can cause stains over a course of time would be red wine, carrots, and oranges.

Smoking – The nicotine in tobacco products can cause an intrinsic stain.

Grinding – Which can be caused by stress will produce cracks in the teeth that can cause dark staining.

The embarrassment of many of these stain-causing agents can be avoided by using Idol White. You can sample the product and utilize a free trial at http://www.idolwhite.com. Don’t risk any money on procedures that may not work and don’t be ashamed to smile anymore.

However, teeth whitening is never permanent—not even for professionally made veneers. You are going to have to change things up with your lifestyle in order to maintain this look.

What You Eat and Drink

Limiting your intake on beverages such as, coffee, tea, red wine, or anything that has a stain causing effect will help to reduce discoloration. Drinking these drinks through a straw can reduce the amount of exposure.

As soon as you are finished eating, it is important to brush your teeth. Brushing your teeth will help to remove any stain causing particles that are still left behind.

Here is a little trick you can do at home. Get some strawberries from the store (pureed does this best) and rub it all over your teeth. Strawberries have an enzyme that acts like a teeth whitener. After this, you need to brush and rinse thoroughly to avoid leaving sugar particles behind.

Eating crunchy vegetables and fruits such as, apples, carrots, celery, and broccoli act as a natural plaque remover.

Other Homemade Maintenance Remedies

There are two homemade maintenance remedies that taste horrible, but work very effectively for obtaining great teeth whitening results. Everyone has probably heard of baking soda and it’s whitening or cleansing effects on your teeth. It helps to dip your toothbrush in baking soda right before you start brushing your teeth.

The other method is combining lemon juice with a teaspoon of salt. Mixing these two will create a paste that you can brush on your teeth. The salt acts like a scrub pad and the lemon juice will help to whiten your teeth. Another great homemade whitener is hydrogen peroxide, but be careful not to swallow any of it when brushing your teeth.

As you can see, maintenance is the key if you want to continue having pearly whites regardless of what method you choose. Choosing a different lifestyle can be challenging for most—but well worth it if your goal is to continue having white teeth.