It’s more important than ever to have a bright white smile, especially in photographs. Since everyone has a camera in their pocket, having a beautiful smile that you can flash any time someone wants to take a picture is wonderful.
More and more, photos on social media are becoming an important part of how we present ourselves to the world, so it’s always a good idea to make sure you look good in them!
There are plenty of apps you can use to edit pictures and make your teeth look whiter, but the best way to get a dazzling smile in photos is to actually whiten your teeth! Not only will your social media feed look a lot better, but you’ll feel a lot more confident and charismatic in real life too!
Having a bright white smile can open a lot of doors for you in life, so it’s definitely a great idea to use whitening products to make sure you can dazzle the whole room.
Why You May Want To Use Teeth Whitening Apps
Whether you’re making a first impression or seeing friends, your smile is a big part of how you present yourself. Having white teeth can make you come off as more confident, outgoing, and even professional. It can get you that job you’ve been gunning for or even help you reel in a romantic partner.
A white smile isn’t just a smile after all; it also brings the confidence of knowing that you look great. That confidence will be noticed, and so will you! It all starts with a dazzling smile that you can be proud of.
Why not take the first steps on your teeth whitening journey today, and start becoming the version of yourself that you’ve always wanted to be?
These days, teeth whitening products are becoming more and more advanced. Scientists are hard at work producing the best and most cutting-edge chemical compounds and solutions to keep your teeth white and shiny, and there’s never been a better time than right now to start whitening your teeth.
The teeth whitening systems hitting the shelves now even have access to other kinds of state-of-the-art technology, like smartphone apps. It seems like there’s an app for everything nowadays, and teeth whitening is no exception.
Systems like Snow take advantage of the power of your smartphone to give you total control over the teeth whitening process, so you can know you’re getting exactly the experience that you want. So much of our lives happen on our phones now, so why shouldn’t your teeth whitening happen there too?
As always, it’s a good idea to be in touch with your dentist when you’re deciding on a teeth whitening system, especially if you’re looking to try something a little more cutting-edge.
Dentists know exactly what they’re talking about and can help you cut through the cloud of information out there. That’s why we’re here too! In this article, we’ll go over some of the most advanced teeth whitening systems on the market today, including ones that get your smartphone and tablet involved.
It’s worth mentioning that none of these systems are meant to be a replacement for your regular dental hygiene, including brushing and flossing.
Brushing twice a day and flossing once per day is the foundation that all whitening solutions are built upon, and there’s no way to keep your teeth nice and white if you don’t have a good foundation.
How Teeth Become Yellow
The best way to whiten your teeth is going to be partially based on what exactly is causing them to become yellow in the first place. This is another instance where it’s a good idea to consult with your dentist. They know your teeth better than anyone, so they’ll know if there’s any reason why one method might be better for you specifically.
For example, if you’re a smoker, then there’s really no point in trying any of these whitening solutions. Smoking can leave deep stains on your teeth that are hard to get rid of, but more importantly, those stains can come back more or less immediately if you keep smoking after cleaning them off. If you’re looking for a reason to quit, then let your teeth count as one!
Most of the yellowing that you see on your teeth at any given time is there because of staining. There are two kinds of stains that you might see on your teeth: extrinsic stains and intrinsic stains.
Extrinsic stains are by far the most common type of staining, and luckily they’re also the easiest to get rid of. As the name suggests, extrinsic stains are usually superficial and appear only on the outside of your tooth. They’re typically yellow, although the cause of the stain can affect the color.
Most stains are caused by food or drink, particularly dark-colored stuff like beets, red wine, or coffee. When you eat or drink, whatever you have ends up leaving a residue behind on your teeth.
If not brushed away, these stains can set in and become more serious, so remember to brush twice a day. It also might be worth brushing extra time after you eat or drink something particularly staining, like soy sauce or wine.
The best way to deal with extrinsic stains is to avoid them in the first place. Not only should you brush your teeth to get rid of any residue stuck to your teeth, but also to get rid of any plaque that might be in your mouth. Plaque is a thin, sticky biofilm made up of leftover food material, saliva, and bacteria.
Not only is plaque gross and very bad for your teeth, but it also makes staining a lot worse. The outer layer of your teeth, called enamel, is very smooth and difficult for stains to stick to. This makes it a lot easier to avoid nasty stains on your teeth. Plaque, on the other hand, is very sticky and porous, so it’s easier for stains to bond to.
The more plaque you have on your teeth, the easier it will be for stains to stick there too. The good news about this is that the stains are actually on the plaque, not your teeth! That means when you brush away the plaque, the stains go with it!
If you leave plaque on your teeth for a while, things can get even worse. After about 48 to 72 hours, plaque mixes with minerals in your saliva to create tartar. Tartar is kind of like plaque to the extreme. It appears as yellow-brown deposits on your teeth and attracts stains just like plaque does.
The main difference between tartar and plaque is that tartar sticks around even after you brush your teeth. In fact, the only way to get rid of tartar is to have your dentist scrape it away when you go in to get your teeth cleaned. That’s why it’s so important to stick to a routine of regular cleanings, about one every six months or so.
Tartar can make your teeth look yellow by itself, and it’s porous, just like plaque, so stains stick to it as well. That makes it doubly bad for your smile!
Almost 70% of American adults have tartar on their teeth, so don’t feel too bad if you notice it in the mirror. Still, it’s best to avoid it if you can, so try to brush your teeth twice a day and floss once per day.
The other kind of stain that can mar the appearance of your pearly whites is intrinsic staining. Unlike extrinsic stains, which stick to the outside of your teeth, intrinsic stains go deeper and are usually a lot more difficult to get rid of. They typically don’t cover your entire tooth, instead just appearing as small dark spots on your tooth.
The most common causes of intrinsic staining are side effects of medication, certain diseases, or overexposure to fluoride. You can also develop intrinsic stains on the inner layers of your teeth if your enamel has been worn down.
The layer beneath enamel is called dentin, and it’s much more vulnerable to staining because of how porous it is. Dentin is also yellow in color, so if your enamel has been worn away or even just worn thin, the dentin can show and make your smile look more yellow overall. This is why many older people end up with yellow teeth even if they brush every day.
Stains also build up as you age, which is another reason older people can have more yellow smiles.
Whitening Your Teeth At The Dentist’s Office
When it comes to whitening your teeth, you have a choice between doing it yourself at home or getting it done at your dentist’s office. There are a few advantages to seeing your dentist, one of them being the peace of mind you might get from knowing you’re in the hands of a professional.
Your dentist probably isn’t going to screw up, so even though whitening your teeth is a pretty safe and easy procedure, it can be reassuring to have it done by someone who knows exactly what they’re doing.
Another significant advantage is the strength of the peroxide formula used by dentists. At-home or in the dentist’s chair, all whitening systems use a hydrogen peroxide solution to bleach your teeth clean.
Over-the-counter whitening systems tend to use a peroxide concentration of anywhere from 10 to 25%. Dentists often use a more potent formula, with a concentration of up to 40%.
This means you’re going to see results faster if you get your teeth whitened professionally, which is something that might make a difference when you’re making your decision.
However, there are plenty of downsides to going the professional route. One big one is the convenience factor. If you’re getting your teeth whitened at the dentist’s office, you’re looking at about a 90-minute session every time you go in. That’s not counting the time you have to spend driving there, sitting in the waiting room, making another appointment when you’re done, and eventually driving home.
Unless you live pretty close to the dentist’s office, that’s going to more or less double the time it takes every session. Professional teeth whitening will take several different sessions over a period of a few weeks.
Compare that to at-home whitening systems, which take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes a night. There’s also the price tag to think about. Teeth whitening is considered to be a cosmetic procedure, so it’s not usually covered by dental insurance.
That means you’re going to be paying out of pocket, and the cost can get pretty high. It’s worth speaking to your dentist about it before making up your mind, so you have an idea of how much the whitening procedure is going to run you. On average, however, at-home systems are generally a lot cheaper.
At-Home Whitening Strips (Teeth Whitening App Alternative)
If you’d rather skip the dentist’s chair and get your teeth whitened in your own home, there are a few different options to consider. You can opt for peroxide-based whitening gum or whitening toothpaste, which are relatively easy and inexpensive.
However, you’re not going to see much of a result from these things alone. If you want a dazzling white smile, you’re going to want to use an actual whitening system.
One of the most common ways to whiten your teeth at home is to use whitening strips. You’ve probably seen these in advertisements or the aisles at your local drug store or supermarket. Whitening strips are one of the cheapest and easiest ways to whiten your teeth.
The strips are made of thin, flexible plastic coated in a peroxide solution. The concentration of peroxide in whitening strips is usually pretty low, so you’re going to have to use them for a little longer to see the kinds of results you’re looking for.
That being said, the lower concentration also means that you’re less likely to accidentally cause damage to your enamel.
Using the whitening strips is super easy. Just stick the strips on your teeth, leave them on for as long as the box tells you to, then take them off and throw them away. Easy peasy, pretty straightforward!
It’ll generally take about two or three weeks for you to start seeing the results you’re hoping for, but they’ll come. Whitening strips are a pretty easy and inexpensive method of whitening your teeth, so they’re perfect for someone just starting on the path to whiter teeth.
It’s important that you follow the instructions on the box precisely, however. When it comes to using peroxide-based whitening products, leaving your teeth exposed to the peroxide for longer than instructed can cause damage to your enamel, so it’s best to be careful.
You should also pay special attention to the ingredients of whitening strips when you buy them. Some strips use a peroxide solution that includes chlorine dioxide, which is the same chemical used to clean swimming pools.
Chlorine is a little too powerful for your teeth and can strip your enamel off if you’re not careful, so it’s best to avoid whitening systems with chlorine in them.
Teeth Whitening Trays (Alternative To Teeth Whitening Apps)
If you find that whitening strips aren’t getting the job done, then it might be time to graduate to whitening trays. This system uses little plastic trays that you fill with peroxide gel and place over your teeth like a mouthguard.
Like the strips, it’s pretty easy and straightforward. Some trays come pre-filled with the gel, and others require you to fill the tray yourself. Try not to overfill the trays, or you could end up irritating your gums with the peroxide.
There are a couple of big advantages that the trays have over the strips. The first is the strength of the solution. Since the trays are often a little more powerful than the strips, you might start to see results a little faster this way.
However, it’s worth keeping in mind that a more powerful solution means a higher risk of damage to your enamel. It’s particularly important to follow the instructions for higher-strength peroxide whitening kits.
The other big advantage of the trays is that the gel can reach all those little nooks and crannies between your teeth that the strips leave unwhitened.
However, this all comes at the cost of convenience. Generally, you’ll have to leave the trays in for quite some time, sometimes up to an hour. Some trays are even meant to be left in your mouth overnight, which can be kind of a pain.
You also can’t eat or drink when the trays are in your mouth, so it’s important to plan your evenings accordingly. The strips vs. trays debate really just comes down to that.
Stronger results earlier in the process or less time spent being inconvenienced per day. The only one who can decide which is best for you is you.
Teeth Whitening Wands (Alternative To Teeth Whitening Apps)
If you’re looking for the best of both worlds, then you might want to give teeth whitening systems like Snow a try.
Snow uses an applicator wand to paint a peroxide gel onto your teeth, offering you more precision than either the strips or the trays. This lets you get all those little hard to reach places in between your teeth without the risk of irritating your gums, which is nice.
Once the gel is on your teeth, just pop in a mouthguard with Snow’s special activating LED light to make the whitening effects faster and more powerful. Snow’s easy teeth whitening at home systems also come with a special desensitizing serum for people with sensitive teeth to avoid causing pain during the whitening process.
All of these innovations make Snow the most state-of-the-art teeth whitening system on the shelves right now, so if you’re looking for something cutting edge, Snow might be right for you! It’s also a lot faster, with results guaranteed within the first seven days of use.
Not only is Snow faster, but it’s also more convenient on a day-to-day basis. The whitening only takes 9 to 30 minutes per day, much faster than the trays. In this way, Snow blends the best attributes of both the strips and the trays to create a complete whitening system that’s perfect for someone with convenience on their mind.
Actual Teeth Whitening Apps
Teeth whitening technology is getting more and more advanced, so it makes sense that whitening companies would start including your smartphone in the process.
Snow is one of the first systems to directly incorporate a smartphone app into the whitening experience, and it works to give you total control over how you whiten your teeth.
Available for free on both the Google Play marketplace and iOS App Store, Snow’s smartphone app puts you in the driver’s seat of your teeth whitening experience.
When you use Snow’s app, it connects wirelessly to the LED activating light mouthpiece and lets you control your whitening treatment. You can even set up your own custom treatments by controlling the gum to teeth ratio of the light.
You can also control the strength of the treatment, which is excellent for people who have sensitive teeth and want to avoid spending too much time with peroxide on them.
Concerned about damaging your enamel and just want to take things slow? Set the app timer for 10 minutes per day and stay worry-free. Looking for faster and more dramatic results? Set the timer for 30 minutes and see your teeth becoming whiter by the day.
The important thing is that you’re in control of your destiny. Snow is currently the only system out there with an app like this, so if you’re looking for a whitening kit that empowers you to take control of the whole process, look no further.
Whether you’re going hi-tech or keeping it old school, be sure to stay in touch with your doctor as you start your whitening journey. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make sure you’re getting the best possible whitening solution for your needs.
