For a better experience on crest.com, please enable JavaScript in your browser.

White Teeth: How to Get Whiter Teeth and Rid of Stains
Find how teeth whitening really works. Learn how you can get whiter teeth and ways to prevent teeth stains from reoccurring.

How-to-Get-Whiter-Teeth-and-Rid-of-Stains

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
How to Get Whiter Teeth
Teeth Whitening Tips
How to Prevent Recurring Teeth Stains

Teeth discoloration can be caused by many factors, including dental hygiene, diet, medication use, and medical conditions, and smoking. Teeth discoloration is a concern for almost everyone, but it can be improved with a variety of whitening techniques. Depending on how teeth discoloration has occurred, some whitening strategies may be more effective than others.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

Whitening products improve teeth discoloration in one of two ways:

Physical: Whitening toothpastes contain silica particles. These particles help improve teeth discoloration by polishing the tooth enamel. But physical stain removal may not be enough if you have more severe teeth discoloration. Whitening toothpastes do not contain bleach, and they only improve teeth discoloration by about one shade of whiteness.
Chemical: Chemical products such as whitening strips provide a more dramatic improvement in teeth discoloration. These products contain varying amounts of whitening agents. The whitening agent oxidizes the molecules in the stains to improve teeth discoloration. When using chemical teeth whitening, the degree and duration of teeth whitening depends in part on the strength of the bleaching agent.

How to Get Whiter Teeth

Some people choose to have their teeth whitened professionally, but it can be a bit daunting and expensive. If you’re not sure what to do, start by swapping out your oral hygiene products for a whitening toothpaste, a whitening mouthwash and teeth whitening strips, and evaluate your smile from there. Here’s how whitestrips, whitening toothpaste, and mouthwash can make a difference:

Whitestrips: Teeth whitening strips can remove teeth stains below the enamel surface to dramatically improve your smile. Crest® 3D White Luxe Professional Effects Whitestrips whiten 25x better than a leading whitening toothpaste.*
Whitening Toothpaste: Brushing your teeth with whitening toothpaste improves your ability to remove surface stains. Using Crest 3D White Brilliance can help remove 95% of surface stains in 3 days.

*when toothpaste is used for 4 weeks.
Whitening Mouthwash: Whitening mouthwash that include an ADA-approved teeth whitening agent, whitens your teeth through contact by removing surface stains.

Teeth Whitening Tips

Teeth stain removal can be achieved by several teeth-whitening procedures:

Professional teeth whitening at your dentist’s office
At-home professional teeth-whitening kit from your dentist
At-home professional teeth-whitening kit available over-the-counter
he regular use of whitening mouthwashes, whitening pastes, and whitening strips

Your dentist can provide instant results with in-office bleaching. However, whitening your teeth at home gives you a beautiful smile in the comfort and convenience of your own home, at a more reasonable price.

Teeth stain removal early on lets you match dental work—veneers, bonding, fillings, crowns, and bridges—to your newly whitened teeth shade. If you bleach after dental work, the bleach will not lighten manufactured teeth, and you may need new dental work to match your new tooth shade.

If bleaching doesn’t help with teeth stain removal, ask your dentist about dental bonding and veneers that cover up the stained teeth. This is expensive, but it also gives you a beautiful smile.

How to Prevent Recurring Teeth Stains

To prevent a recurrence of teeth discoloration, be sure to follow a regular oral care routine of toothbrushing and flossing. Need another reason to floss? Remember that flossing in particular helps prevent teeth discoloration by reducing the formation of stain-causing plaque on the teeth.

Sources: