Everyone wants pearly white teeth for a dazzling smile. While good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist will help keep your teeth looking good, sometimes you need a quicker solution - especially if you want whiter teeth for a particular event or occasion. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to get whiter teeth in less than an hour! Just get started with Step 1 below to find out more.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Home Treatments
Step 1. Use baking soda
Baking soda can be used to effectively whiten teeth in minutes! This is because baking soda is a mild abrasive that helps to scrub the stains off your teeth.
- To use it, wet your toothbrush and dip it in a little baking soda. Then brush your teeth as usual, paying special attention to the 16 teeth visible from the front. You should brush it for about three minutes.
- Keep in mind that, over time, baking soda can erode the protective enamel on your teeth. Therefore, it is not a good idea to do this treatment every day. Keep doing it once or twice a week for whiter teeth without the risk of tooth decay.
Step 2. Use hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide can be used to whiten teeth, making teeth whiter. It is completely safe to use, as long as it is not swallowed.
- One way to use hydrogen peroxide is to dip a clean face towel in hydrogen peroxide, then use the damp cloth to gently brush your teeth. Hydrogen peroxide will remove chemical stains, while towels will help to remove visible stains.
- Additionally, you can gargle with a full container of hydrogen peroxide (which also helps to kill bacteria and freshen your breath) or dip your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide and use it to brush your teeth.
Step 3. Eat strawberries
After eating, you should munch on some strawberries for dessert. Strawberries contain folic acid, which actually helps to clean and brush teeth, making them appear whiter.
- You can also mash a strawberry and mix it with a little baking soda as a natural whitening toothpaste.
- Other foods that help to clean and whiten teeth naturally include apples, pears, carrots and celery.
Step 4. Avoid consuming foods or drinks that can stain your teeth
If you want your teeth to look whiter, avoid certain foods and drinks that can stain your teeth, such as coffee, black tea, red wine, grape juice and curry.
- If you drink any of the drinks listed above, you can prevent them from staining your teeth by drinking them through a straw, or by rubbing a thin layer of Vaseline on your teeth first.
- Also, you can chew a stick of sugar-free whitening gum after eating these foods or drinks. This gum can help absorb newly formed stains, making your teeth look whiter.
Method 2 of 3: Using Products Sold in the Market
Step 1. Use whitening toothpaste
While whitening toothpaste won't drastically whiten your teeth within an hour (it will become more effective over time), whitening toothpaste can still help to remove stains and make your teeth look brighter.
- Whitening toothpaste contains abrasive particles that polish teeth and remove stains (without damaging tooth enamel). This toothpaste also contains chemicals (such as blue covarine) that coat the surface of the teeth, making them appear whiter.
- To use whitening toothpaste, apply a pea-sized amount of whitening toothpaste on your toothbrush, and brush in small circular motions, holding the toothpaste at a 45-degree angle from the gums.
Step 2. Use a strip of bleach
The whitening strip is coated with peroxide gel, which whitens teeth and helps make teeth look whiter. Usually you need to use two sets of strips per day, for 30 minutes for each strip -- giving you a whiter smile in just 60 minutes!
- Bleach strips can be purchased over-the-counter at drugstores or supermarkets. Avoid buying brands that contain "chlorine dioxide" ingredients as this can damage the enamel on your teeth.
- To use this strip, remove the strip from the package and apply one strip to your upper teeth and another strip to your lower teeth. Leave it for 30 minutes. Some strips will dissolve on their own after use, while others will need to be removed from your teeth.
- For best results, continue to use the bleach strip twice daily for two weeks.
Step 3. Use a teeth whitening pen
Like whitening strips, teeth whitening pens use a gel containing peroxide to whiten teeth.
- To use, remove the cap, and twist the pen to dispense the gel. Stand in front of a mirror and smile widely, then use a pen to "paint" the gel onto your teeth.
- Keep your mouth open for about 30 seconds to allow the gel to dry. Try not to eat or drink anything for 45 minutes after this treatment.
- For best results, repeat this process three times a day for one month.
Step 4. Use a teeth whitening mold
Teeth whitening molds are another great option to whiten your teeth fast. These prints can be purchased over-the-counter or can be ordered for your dentist to make.
- To use the teeth whitening mold, spray a small amount of the supplied concentrated peroxide gel into the tray (which looks like a plastic holder) and then attach the mold to your teeth.
- Depending on the type of print, you may only need to wear it for half an hour, or you may have to wear it overnight. While one use will make your teeth appear brighter, if you want significantly whiter teeth you will need to apply the mold over and over again.
- While custom-made impressions by your dentist are usually expensive (usually around $2,000), they are specially shaped for your teeth, making this treatment more effective than store-bought "one-size" impressions.
Method 3 of 3: Doing a Teeth Whitening Treatment
Step 1. Get your teeth cleaned professionally
Make an appointment for a professional dental cleaning with your dentist, every six months.
- This will help keep your teeth in tip-top shape, prevent tooth decay and gum disease in addition to making your teeth white and looking good.
- Your dentist can also perform the same whitening treatment as the mold-tooth whitening method you use at home, except that the bleaching solution is much stronger.
Step 2. Perform laser treatment
Another very effective option is to do laser treatment for teeth whitening. Usually it can be expensive, but it whitens faster and will produce very effective results.
- Whitening gel is applied to your teeth, then a rubber guard is placed over your gums. A laser beam or white light is then directed at your teeth, activating the whitening gel.
- Depending on how white you want your teeth to be, you may need to go back for a few sessions. However, each session only lasts about 30 minutes.
Tips
- Don't drink energy drinks and colas too often, they have a high sugar content that will stain your teeth.
- Brush your teeth after you eat, so food doesn't get stuck in your teeth and you won't experience bad breath.
- Brush your teeth after breakfast, after dinner and when you go to bed.
- Brush your teeth every day.
- Avoid foods and drinks that stain teeth such as soy sauce, red wine, cigarettes, and coffee.
- Brush your teeth with a little baking soda.
- Drinking coffee and wine through a straw will keep them from staining your teeth too much.
- Soak your teeth in a mixture of baking soda, salt, lemon juice, and vinegar. After eating a banana and rub it on your teeth.
