After years of wearing braces, there is an excitement that builds up around getting them off. Unfortunately, once your braces are removed, you may find that the area underneath the metal brackets is whiter than the enamel surrounding them. Whitening your teeth after you get your braces off can make the smile you suffered braces for shine, and there are a number of options you can try to get bright results.
Instructions
1. Ask your dentist to do an in-office bleaching. This powerful bleaching process will get you on the way to whiter teeth, and your dentist will provide you with a follow-up kit to continue treatment at home over the next couple of weeks. In many cases, dental insurance will not cover this expensive procedure, so opting to do it yourself with over-the-counter bleaching kits is an alternative.
2. Test the sensitivity of your teeth before bleaching at home. After having your braces removed, you may find that your enamel is weaker. Bleaching teeth with weakened enamel can lead to even weaker enamel, eventually resulting in painful tooth decay. If you have sensitive teeth, brush for at least two weeks with a sensitive teeth toothpaste.
3. Evaluate the peroxide percentage before purchasing an at-home bleaching kit. The higher the percentage of peroxide, the more powerful the bleaching kit. If the stains on your teeth are severe and you don't suffer from sensitivity, use a kit with the highest percentage available; otherwise, start on the lower end and work your way up to a higher percentage over a period of three to four weeks.
4. Soak the whitening tray that comes with your bleaching kit in warm water for three to five minutes and then press it into your mouth to help mold it to your teeth.
5. Apply whitening solution to the interior of the whitening tray and insert it into your mouth. Based on the type of kit and power of the bleaching agent, you can leave the tray in your mouth anywhere from a couple of hours to overnight. The longer you keep the bleach on your teeth, the faster you will see results.
6. Try whitening strips. A number of toothpaste companies now produce whitening strips with a low percentage of peroxide that can be molded right to your teeth twice a day for thirty minutes during a period of three weeks. Because of the low percentage of peroxide in these strips, the whitening process may take longer but will be equally effective.
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