People say that first impressions last, and indeed they do. Upon meeting new acquaintances, what makes a person stand out is not the way he/she dresses or the way he/she talks, but the way he/she smiles. Sure there a lot of other things that are noticeable at first like the way a person looks, talks, or even smell of perfume/cologne, but a person’s charm is always behind a great smile. A great smile shows confidence, and that makes a big difference on how people think of you. This may sound like a toothpaste commercial, but it’s the truth. Think about it, people with whiter, brighter teeth tend to smile more often because good healthy teeth show that a person has good hygiene.

But sometimes even good hygiene is not enough to keep our teeth shining bright which is why regular visits to the dentists are recommended. There are a lot of reasons why teeth become discolored. Teeth become stained depending on the food we eat and the medications we take, and sometimes they become damaged that darkening is noticeable overnight. Our teeth also become discolored depending on our habits like smoking, and drinking regular coffee for instance. Even regular cola causes staining of the teeth. Teeth naturally become discolored when people age too, but these changes are gradual so they are hardly noticeable. 

Generally, people would want to maintain the color and health of their teeth, and there are some who wish to go the extra mile to have their teeth look their best, and this is where teeth whitening comes into the picture. There are a lot of methods to improve the color of teeth; and these vary in procedure, period of treatment and cost. But the fastest, safest, and best lasting treatment is laser whitening. This method is also recommended for people with sensitive teeth.

“The professional teeth whitening process begins with a minor cleaning and removal of any plaque along the gum line. Once this has been accomplished, a peroxide based gel is applied to the teeth. This gel contains a professional strength formula that ensures the laser accomplishes the maximum possible amount of teeth whitening. Next, a special light is used to activate the gel. The process usually takes about an hour, and whitens teeth by as many as 10 shades.”

Unfortunately, though this method is the most effective, it is also the most expensive. Teeth whitening costs depend on the number of in-office treatments needed and this depends on the degree of discoloration of teeth. One might think that this process is quick and easy, but think again. If you ever get to desperately need such services, remember that there is cleaning of plaque prior to the application. The more damaged and stained the teeth are, the deeper the teeth are ground and the more painful the removal of plaque is. Moreover, each treatment costs $1000 on the average, which is why commonly these treatments are only availed of by the more privileged. Because of this, these treatments are not included in insurance policies, so always remember to have your regular dental checkups and to take good care of your teeth.