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10 BEST Ways to Whiten your Teeth Fast And Safe

June 19, 2018

Thanks to a variety of factors, some that have nothing to do with how well a person takes care of their teeth, teeth can discolour over time and lose some of their natural radiance. Certain foods, beverages, plaque build-up, and smoking stain the enamel on the outermost layer of your teeth. While brushing and flossing can help keep some of this discolouration at bay, it does build up over time, especially if you are a coffee or tea drinker, and you may want your bright, white smile back. Here are ten ways to whiten your teeth, so they sparkle.

 

  1. Diet Changes

While changing your diet can not reverse any current staining on your teeth, it will prevent any further discolouration. Fruits and vegetables are great for keeping your teeth plaque free which helps with future discolouration. Avoiding coffee or tea and drinking juice or pop through a straw can also help.

 

  1. Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is a traditional Indian remedy for improving oral hygiene. You swish around one tablespoon of oil in your mouth, pushing and pulling the oil through your teeth. Do this for 15-20 minutes and then spit into a trash can so that the oil does not clog your pipes. Performing oil pulling can help reduce plaque and brighten your smile.

 

  1. Baking Soda

Brushing with a paste made of baking soda and water will help whiten your teeth with prolonged use. It also reduces bacteria in your mouth, which can cause further discolouration. Over time you will be able to buff surface stains away from your teeth.

 

  1. Apple Cider Vinegar

You can only use apple cider vinegar a couple of times a week, as using it more often can erode tooth enamel. Dilute it with water and swish around in your mouth for a few minutes. You do need to rinse your mouth afterward with water to protect your teeth.

 

  1. Hydrogen Peroxide

When you use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash, make sure that you are using a 1.5-3% solution. Using anything more strong than this can cause irritation and sensitivity. You can also mix hydrogen peroxide with baking soda to make toothpaste. Limit use to a few times per week, and you will see results in around six weeks.

 

  1. Preventative Measures

To stop teeth from becoming stained then you will want to generally avoid a few foods. Coffee, black coffee, red wine, soda, and dark coloured berries are the big ones. While you can enjoy these every so often, they do affect your teeth. You should also avoid smoking and chewing tobacco, which can significantly affect tooth colour.

 

  1. Whitening Strips

You can purchase kits at the drugstore that you can use to whiten your teeth. These are effective, but if you do not place them properly on your teeth, then you may find that you have spots where your teeth are not quite as white as other areas, especially between your teeth.

 

  1. Brushing, Flossing and Regular Cleanings

Plaque is a big culprit in turning teeth yellow. Brushing, flossing, and going to your dentist for regular cleanings will help keep plaque from building up. This is preventative as well, as keeping your teeth plaque free helps with possible discolouration in the future.  

 

  1. Professional Whitening Kits

At Vancity Dental we make at home whitening kits that are custom to you. The trays fit directly over your teeth and contain professional-strength whitening gel that is safe for at home use. You wear the trays for a couple of hours a day, or overnight, and your smile will gradually whiten. In two weeks you will have a brighter, whiter smile.

 

  1. In-Office Treatments

The fastest way to get a new bright, white smile is to have an in-office treatment at Vancity Dental. While protecting your lips and gums, we paint a professional-strength whitening gel onto your teeth and activate it with a dental laser so that the gel can penetrate your teeth with ease. This treatment takes only one day, and the results will be perfect.

 

If you are looking for teeth whitening in Vancouver, then look no further than our Vancouver dentist office. Vancity Dental has both in-office whitening as well as custom-made home whitening kits that are tailor-made just for you. If you want results, then this is your best bet over at home remedies. Professional whitening is also the safest way to go, and you will not suffer the nasty side effects that you could experience with other DIY methods. Come in or contact us today and we will take you through your options.

Invisalign vs Traditional Braces

April 29, 2018

Woman with white teeth smiling.

If you need braces, then you may be thinking about whether you want to get conventional braces or Invisalign. Traditional braces are the kind of braces that everyone had seen on their friends when they were children or on your children during their youth. Most youth or teenagers will have an easier time with traditional bracket and wire braces, partly due to the fact that so many of their peers have them at the same time. If you are an adult or older teen though, then traditional braces can be daunting due to their looks. This is why Invisalign is attractive to so many people because they are barely noticeable and are removable. There are limitations on Invisalign though, and they cannot always replace conventional braces. Here are the pros and cons of traditional braces and Invisalign.

Severity

One of the biggest cons of Invisalign is that it cannot handle all orthodontic problems because it has diminished control over tooth movement by comparison to traditional braces. If you have:
Severely rotated teeth (a tooth rotated more than 20 degrees from normal position)
Large teeth spacing (more than 6 mm of combined tooth gaps per arch)
Overcrowded teeth (Less than 6 mm per arch)
Extremely tipped teeth (teeth tilted more than 45 degrees from normal)
Severe overbite or underbite
Open bites (where anterior teeth do not touch, often due to thumb sucking or tongue thrusting)
Invisalign is getting better and better though. Now, you can use elastics with Invisalign thanks to attachments to help straighten your teeth. So while Invisalign is currently more limited than conventional braces, which can do pretty much anything given the right application, in the future, it may be able to do a lot more.

Staining

If you do not take proper care of your teeth while you are wearing conventional braces, then when the brackets have finally been removed the portions of your teeth that were exposed may be stained while the tooth covered by the bracket is not. To avoid this, make sure that you are brushing your teeth properly every day and avoid drinks that stain.

Decay

If you have Invisalign, then you have to take your Invisalign off to eat or drink (like a retainer) and put it back in after (you are allowed to drink water with your Invisalign in but no other beverages). If you do not brush your teeth before doing this, though, and if you drink things like soda with your Invisalign then you could end up with tooth decay.

Cost

In most cases, conventional braces are cheaper, especially if you are not compliant with your Invisalign use (you must always wear your Invisalign and not take it out).
Ineligibility
If you have crowns, bridges, or not all of your teeth have grown in, then you cannot have removable braces.

Aesthetics

The main reason most people consider something like Invisalign, especially adults, is that no one knows you are wearing it!

If you need braces and are thinking of Invisalign for yourself, but fear that your orthodontic issues are too severe for Invisalign, then there is a third option: using both conventional braces and Invisalign. Start out in traditional braces to get your teeth to the point where, while not perfect, they can finish the correction process in Invisalign which will shorten your time in conventional braces.

If you are looking for Invisalign in Vancouver or a dentist in Vancouver BC, then look no further than Vancity Dental. Our professional staff will help you decide on the best course of orthodontic care for you, whether Invisalign or conventional braces.