Tips for a Whiter, Brighter Smile

So you want a whiter smile, just like a movie star? There are several options open to you, some are slow and some are fast. The slower ones are less expensive, while the quicker ones can dip pretty deeply into your wallet.

The cheapest and probably slowest route would be using chewing gum that whitens your teeth. Then there are the toothpastes that are supposed to do the same thing. Of course, now there's a mouthwash that claims to whiten your smile, too. I've tried some of these things and if they work, they're sure taking along time.

The next level of whitening would be purchasing products that are made solely to whiten your choppers. For example, Crest makes a product called, "Whitestrips". The idea behind these is that you place these sticky strips on your teeth twice a day for 30 minutes. This program lasts 7 days and at the end, your teeth should be a little brighter. The only drawback to these is that the strips only cover the front teeth. If you're the type of person with a broad grin or a toothy smile, you may find some of your exposed teeth don't match!

After this, there are products you can get from your dentist, like "Poladay". These are plastic syringes containing a gooey substance that you squeeze out into dental trays that you wear. These seem pretty good but can cost over $100 for the kit, which lasts a few months. Nice stuff, but you've got to use it everyday.

The final step would be to have your teeth professionally whitened. There's a procedure called "Zoom", that does this. Your mouth is held open by brackets while a special paste is applied to your teeth. Another paste is applied to your gums to protect them and then your mouth is exposed to an intense light which causes the material on your teeth to whiten. This procedure only lasts about 15-30 minutes and it's supposed to make your teeth look like Tom Cruises (without the Tom Cruise kookiness). I've heard that this can make your teeth ultra-sensitive and may burn exposed gum areas. This procedure can run several hundred dollars. I suggest doing a little research. Talk to your dentist and see what's available in your area, then decide whats right for you.