You know you want whiter teeth and a brighter smile. But when you see all the products on the drugstore shelves, promising to give you a gorgeous smile, do you feel skeptical, or even overwhelmed? If so, you are not alone. It can be difficult to determine how to go about best achieving a brighter smile. Fortunately, a cosmetic dentist can help ensure you get the kind of whiter smile of which you have been dreaming, safely and effectively!

3.    It’s Important to Start with a Healthy Smile

Before beginning any whitening regime, whether over-the-counter or a professional treatment, it is important to first ensure your teeth are healthy. Otherwise you risk causing damage to the teeth’s enamel, or causing extreme sensitivity or discomfort during the whitening process, particularly if you have an untreated cavity or other dental problem.

Keep in mind that if it has been more than six months since your last dental checkup, you are already overdue for a dental cleaning. In some cases, a cleaning alone may lighten teeth slightly, by removing tartar buildup. Once you know your teeth and gums are healthy, then it will be safe to begin whitening them.

4. Significant Staining May Require Professional Treatment

Though many over-the-counter options can effectively lighten teeth by a few shades, few are designed to create dramatic effects. Therefore, if you want noticeably brighter teeth, you may prefer the added benefits of seeking professional whitening treatment.

In many cases, a cosmetic dentist can help lighten teeth by more than seven shades, creating dramatic results you’ll be excited about showing off.

5. Permanent Discoloration Can Still Be Addressed

If you do suffer from permanent staining or intrinsic discoloration, that doesn’t mean there is no hope for your smile. Bonding and porcelain veneers offer effective ways to hide permanent staining, so you can still smile proudly, even if professional whitening will not work.