question about teeth whitening and tartar removal...?
543574
Baking soda won't really have an effect on whitening your teeth or removing tartar. Baking soda is effective at neutralizing acid in your mouth, which will lower your chances of decay. Bacteria in your mouth produce acid whenever you eat, especially when it's a fermentable sugar. Acid produced by bacteria is what demineralizes your teeth and allows cavities to form. So if you brush or rinse with baking soda immediately after eating, it may help in your overall oral hygiene. People who have low saliva flow are especially recommended to rinse with baking soda because saliva acts as our natural acid buffering agent.\n\nTartar is formed when plaque has been sitting on your teeth for some time and calcium in your saliva mineralizes it into a hard mass. You tend to find most tartar on your lower front teeth and upper molars because this is where saliva enters your mouth from the salivary glands. Tartar can only be removed by scaling because of the way it is adsorbed onto your teeth. Tartar control toothpastes are only effective in reducing the amount of tartar on your teeth after a cleaning has been removed by a dentist or hygienist. The active ingredient is sodium pyrophosphate, which acts as a buffer to remove calcium from your saliva so it doesn't have a chance to form tartar. \n\nBrushing with baking soda before or after you use toothpaste shouldn't hurt, but the results you are looking for will likely be marginal at best. Using proper brushing technique along with flossing are your best bets at maintaining a healthy mouth.
599463
Secrete and colgate with whitening
895622
I would say in office bleaching...when you whiten your smile your fillings will not whiten...dentist can point out spots that will reject the whitener which may be very helpful advice...plus most times when you whiten in house they will give you the set so you can do it again in 6 or more months...I believe this in house job also last longer too and is more through...just remember whitening can eat at the enamel so make sure to ask about sensitive tooth toothpaste afterwards so you are well prepared.
900291
As long as you oral hygiene is good, you don't have to worry much. In the absence of certain medicines, smoking, tea, coffee, curry, etc. it is a slow process. If your concern is based on esthetics, then better start looking for affordable teeth whitening system/product to address it.
849122
Hi,\n\nIt's difficult to tell exactly without seeing your mouth but 'Blackening' could be caused for a number of reasons.....\n\nFirst thing please try and stop smoking, most of the patients I see with severe gum problems that lead to losing their teeth are smokers, It really badly affects the gums.\n\n The blackening is very likely due to nicotine staining, but can also be a sign that your gums are receeding, as the root surface of teeth when exposed stains a lot more as the root is more porous. Exposed roots are also more prone to decay, although your Dentist should have spotted if this is the case, and are also a sign of gum disease (very common in smokers)\n\n Ideally you should be seeing a Dental Hygienist every 3 months if you smoke, if there is not one at your practice you can ask your dentist to refer you to one at another practice if need be as long as you have a referral letter.\n\nAbrasive pastes like Eucryl and Pearl Drops should not be used regularly as they will roughen and abrade away the enamel and ultimately make the staining worse and your teeth sensitive , same goes for lemon juice, way too acidic, leave a tooth in lemon juice and it dissolves completely eventually!\n\nIf it is just surface staining I advise my patients to use a toothpaste containing Bicarbonate of soda and and electric toothbrush (you can get them as cheap as £12 now) this can work wonders too. \n\nThe only way to  whiten  teeth properly is to have them professionally cleaned by a Dentist or Hygienist and then bleached  by a dentist. \n\nThe stuff sold in the shops does not contain enough peroxide (the active ingredient) to remove anything but a little suface staining.You need to have at least 10% peroxide and this strength is only legally available to dentists in the UK . To do home bleaching supervised by a dentist costs around £350 but gets fantastic results. You wear two bleaching trays for a couple of hours a night for approx 2 wks depending on lightening needed.\n\nYou can also have speed whitening done at the dentist in 1 hour and at around £650, but beware this can make your teeth and gums very sensitive! better to do it gradually over a couple of weeks when you get the same results anyway.\n\nIf the teeth are really badly stained they may need to be crowned or veneered to make a big difference. \n\nMention your concerns about your appearance to the Dentist at your next appointment, that's what they are there for! they may not even be aware of your concern, but should be able to discuss options with you. Good Luck!\n\nHope this helps!
966725
I advise my patients to use \n\nColgate Sensation Deep Clean Whitening\n\nThis has Bicarbonate of soda in it but does not have the strong taste that Arm and Hammer has.\n\nIt is very mildly abrasive, enough that it will remove staining but not damage the enamel on your teeth.\n\nBeware of using Pearl Drops, Eucryl or other so called tooth polishes. They are too abrasive to be used regularly and make the staining worse eventually by roughening the enamel so the stain sticks all the more.\n\nIf it's any recommendation, I use this myself too!\n\np.s. Crest Whitening Strips are NOT available in the UK, the Americans have not been reading the questions again...........
540520
bleaching/whitening does no damage/corrosion to enamel...  that is a common misconception.  the only downside of bleaching for some people is sensitivity in the teeth and gums.  this sensitivity is only temporary and if you want whiter teeth, you'll have to deal with a little discomfort along the way.  \n\nwhitening toothpastes are a gimmick!!  if you read the small print on some of the commercials, you'll see that their claims are made after using the paste for 6 months or longer.  whitening pastes and tartar control pastes have a higher particle size.  these pastes are abrasive and while they remove stains very well, they also remove your enamel (in microscopic amounts along the way).  if your technique is poor when using such pastes, you can do more harm than good.  you may create v-shaped notches in your teeth near the gums and also cause gingival recession.  remember to use a soft brush and gentle, circular motions.\n\nso, bleach until your desired shade is reached--there's no harm as long as you follow all of your dentist's/manufacturer's instructions.
498313
My dentist once asked me if I ever thought about whitening my teeth. I ask him if I needed it. He replied, "No." End of discussion. He was just looking for an easy buck....
360221
1. Models are told to sip through a straw to protect their teeth from stain-makers like coffee, cola, tea and red wine. \n\n2. Concentrate on foods that act like detergents and whiten teeth naturally. These are generally foods that require a lot of chewing like apples, celery and carrots. Other foods can act like a barrier on teeth by creating a film. Broccoli, lettuce and spinach are foods that prevent stains from recurring. \n\n3. Take a couple of strawberries and mash them in a dish or bowl. Then, taking your finger, spread the pulp all over your teeth. Leave it on a minute or two, and then brush it off thoroughly.\n\n4. By now, most of us have heard of whitening strips such as Crest Whitestrips. These flexible strips that you apply directly to your teeth are similar to the peroxide gel that dentists use during their bleaching procedures. They promise to whiten teeth in two weeks, and the results last up to six months. \n\n5. Make your teeth look whiter by using a bright shade of lipstick. The color contrast will make your teeth look like you’ve had whitening treatment.
40543
i use the new isonic teeth whitener u maybe seen it on tv it lights up really bright like a laser light and u apply the liquids in it it really does work u can get it at ur local cvs store
65954
i kno this from experience CREST IS WHITENING STRIPS THE BOMB man i surprised my friends when i got bak from vacation because my teeth were so much more whiter!!! i have tried everything else besides this and nothing else works as well
501283
No, whitening will not work on this tooth.  I think a porcelain crown would be your best bet.  It will probably look more natural than any other option you have.  Another choice though that hasn't been mentioned is nonvital bleaching.  My husband had it done on a front tooth and it made the darkness lighter, but it still is a little bit darker than the rest of his teeth.  I've seen mixed results with this procedure.  If you go to the 1st link below and scroll down to the pictures and where it says nonvital bleaching, it will show a case that didn't work out, but that tooth was really dark to begin with.  The second link shows one that worked out better.  But talk to your dentist about it and he will be able to give you choices and help you make the decision that is best for you.
503789
Get ZOOM whitening from the dentist if you can afford it. They use that on all the makeover shows. If you gotta go low budget, use Crest whitening strips....they work too!!! But you have to use them everyday!!
1094311
Dude...\n\n1)Brush\n\n2)Teeth whitener\n\nLast)Go to a dentist
851703
get them cleaned and professional whitened
82492
try this method. it's worked for me the past 2 years, and is super cheap!\n1. before you brush your teeth, swish with a 50% water & 50% hydrogen peroxide solution for 30 seconds.\n2. spit out 50/50 solution.  do not rinse mouth with water. \n3. brush with whitening toothpaste*\n\nthis will help keep stains at bay:-) \n\n*the toothpaste i like is Colgate Total Whitening (paste, not gel) \n\ngood luck!
1003477
The only way to get your teeth super white is by bleaching or veneers. Whitestrips do not wear tooth enamel away. I'm a licenced dental hygienist and I use them all of the time. They do cause sensitivity though but it goes away. That is the cheapest route. The next step up is bleaching trays and in office whitening which is expensive and not worth the cost for the instant gratification. Whatever you do do not go crazy with whitening toothpaste.  This really does wear down enamel over time, esp. if you are scrubbing because you don't like the tooth color. All that makes toothpaste"whitening" is just abrasive stuff. Then you scrub off the enamel to expose the dentin which is naturally yellow in color. Sorry to ramble but I see this every day.