Trends in Teeth Whitening in the Berkeley Area
Demand has never been greater for tooth whitening services in Berkeley. Being a college town, Berkeley is considered to be one of the most hip, fashion forward and diverse communities in California.
Why Do Teeth Need Whitening?
Our teeth discolor naturally as we age. Therefore, someone who has invested in maintaining a youthful appearance by staying fit, coloring their hair, having spa treatments and even having Botox or plastic surgery should definitely use teeth whitening to avoid having their teeth give their age away. Other common causes of tooth discoloration include staining from cigarette smoke, red wine, chocolate, spaghetti sauce, cola beverages, coffee, and tea.
Options for Teeth Whitening in Berkeley
Berkeley residents have three different ways to get their teeth whiter. The options have different levels of effectiveness, accessibility, and cost. Berkeley teeth whitening enthusiasts may wish to start with the lowest priced most accessible method and move up the ladder to more expensive, less accessible methods, depending on the results they get with the cheaper solutions.
Using Teeth Whitening Toothpaste
The cheapest, easiest, most accessible way to whiten your teeth is also the least effective way: using a teeth whitening toothpaste from Berkeley grocery stores or drug stores. Tooth whitening toothpaste is ineffective because it will remove light, fresh stains that come off easily by scrubbing with a mild abrasive that comes in toothpaste.
However, the bleaching agent in toothpaste is too weak to produce noticeable, long-term effects on the color of your teeth. This is not surprising when you consider that your teeth are only in contact with the bleaching agent for a few minutes a day, while you are brushing, and during that time the bleach is diluted by water and saliva.
Using Teeth Whitening Strips
Teeth whitening strips are also available at drug stores and grocery stores in Berkeley. These teeth whitening strips cost a bit more than toothpaste, but they are far more effective because they contain a more concentrated form of bleach than toothpaste and they adhere to your teeth for at least 30 minutes, undiluted by water or saliva.
Unfortunately, teeth whitening strips only whiten the front teeth, making the back teeth look yellower and more discolored than before.
See Your Dentist
Visit a Berkeley dentist for teeth whitening if you want a mouth full of white teeth. Only your dentist has access to the strong bleach solutions that give long-term teeth whitening results.