Teeth whitening is a common dental cosmetic procedure that seeks to get your teeth's colour looking less yellow and more white. There are several ways to undertake a teeth whitening treatment. The safest is to walk into your dentist's office like Wanniassa Dental Surgery and get an in-chair treatment. However, you can also ask your dentist for a home kit, even though this may not give as good results. With teeth whitening becoming such a popular cosmetic process, it helps to know when you need to get one so that you don't get left behind while everyone else is beaming their dazzling white smiles.

You can't seem to get your teeth white even with regular brushing

Everyone tries to get their teeth as clean as they can when brushing. However, it's not possible to get your teeth whiter just by brushing them. Brushing only removes food remains on the teeth surface. Unfortunately, the discoloration you see on your teeth is usually fused to the teeth enamel. If you want to get your teeth whiter, therefore, you will need to get a whitening treatment. This way, the top stained coat of your teeth will be chemically bleached to get rid of the yellow coat.

Your teeth have a build-up of plaque or tartar

If you do not brush your teeth well, food particles will remain around your teeth and gums and form a sticky residue call plaque. Over time, these leftover food remains will harden to form tartar. If you notice the presence of plaque or tartar in your teeth, it means your teeth have been neglected and their state could be improved through dental cleaning and teeth whitening treatments.

You haven't had your teeth whitened in a while

When you have your teeth whitened, you will notice a clear change after leaving the dentist's office. However, with time, e.g. after a year, you will notice that your teeth have started losing their white luster. In truth, teeth whitening is not eternal. Your teeth will lose their newly-found whiteness with time due to eating and brushing habits. If you haven't had your teeth whitened in a while, therefore, you probably should consider a repeat treatment as your teeth may have lost their sparkling color.

You have stains or discoloration on your teeth

Another sure way to tell you need teeth whitening is if your teeth are discolored or stained. Staining and discoloration can happen due to drug use or consumption of colored beverages such as soda, coffee or wine. High levels of fluoride intake are also known to cause severe teeth discoloration. If your teeth are stained or discolored, you can reverse most of the damage using teeth whitening treatment. Your teeth may not go back to being pure white but the difference will be immense.

If your teeth are mildly discoloured, a home whitening kit will work just fine. However, if your teeth need a lot of work, an office cleaning by the dentist is recommended. Talk to your dentist and see which one you need.