Yellow and stained teeth can upset a person's confidence levels because of the unsightly looks. Not being able to laugh heartily is surely a curse for anyone. In the past, stained teeth required regular visits to the dentist to regain the whiteness. It was costly and meant hours wasted on commuting and waiting in the dentist's clinic. However, it is not the case today. Advanced teeth whitening products that are freely available in the market or ordered online restore teeth to their original shine and glory. But be prepared to visit a dentist in extreme cases where stubborn yellow stains refuse to come off.

Reasons for stained and yellow teeth

One of the primary reasons for yellow teeth is ageing. Pearly white teeth of adolescents, youth and even middle-aged people turn yellow and then a take on a tinge of grey with age. This is because the original outer hard enamel becomes thin due to wear and tear. The layer below the white enamel is dentine which is greyish, and this becomes partly visible through the enamel, giving the teeth a darker tinge.

Another reason for yellowed teeth is lifestyle habits. Drinking plenty of tea and coffee, smoking and chewing tobacco leads to stained teeth. Daily consumption of dark juices like that of beetroot and soy can play havoc on the teeth too. Even intake of drugs such as tetracycline at a young age can adversely impact the teeth of a grownup.

Effective teeth whitening products

Here are some of the natural teeth whitening products that are not only very useful and effective but also within reach of the ordinary person.

Teeth Whitening Strips – These strips are perfect for those with slightly discoloured and stained teeth and with no time to visit a dentist. The strips are reasonably priced too and can be safely used at home. Each strip is made of plastic with a layer of tooth whitening gel on them. This gel contains hydrogen peroxide, a chemical that can take out the most stubborn stains. However, for safety reasons, the concentration of the compound is only 6% as against 10% used by dentists. The strips have to be inserted in the mouth and kept wrapped around the teeth, every day for half an hour. For the best results, this treatment has to be carried out for two weeks.

Charcoal Powder – Charcoal has detoxifying properties and hence, not only are stains from teeth quickly removed, the mouth is left tingling and fresh. A pinch of this powder has to be moistened with a few drops of water. The teeth and gums have to be brushed with this mixture. The charcoal molecules absorb the toxins from the teeth and mouth. After brushing is over and the residue is spat out and the mouth rinsed, the absorbed toxins are eliminated too. This charcoal powder is made by burning coconut at very high temperatures with the end-product being ground to a very fine powder. A tub of 30gms from ActiveSmile.Com.Au is suitable for almost 100 applications.

Teeth Whitening Gel – A kit of teeth whitening gel has a LED light, a mouth whitening tray and a few syringes of whitening gel. This gel has carbamide peroxide which is considered to be one of the best teeth whitening products available today. Using this kit is not difficult at all and the procedure can be safely carried out at home. A layer of the gel has to be applied to the mouth whitening tray and this has to be put in the mouth over the teeth. The LED light has to be switched on. After a wait of about 10 minutes, the sound of a beeper going off will indicate that a session is over. It is advisable to go through four sessions one after another for best results.

How to select the best teeth whitening products

Do not walk into a supermarket and pick a teeth whitening product off the shelf. Or for that matter do not order one online too if you do not know the basics of the product, its utility and its composition. Focus on these aspects, and you cannot be wrong.

Convenience – Most people buy a product and after using it for some time, abandon it midway because they are not comfortable with it. Not only is the treatment stopped halfway, the product too will be left unused. You should know what you will be satisfied with – teeth whitening gel or charcoal powder or gel strips. Time also is a factor here. If you opt for a teeth whitening gel, you have to keep aside an hour roughly every day. But with charcoal powder, each teeth whitening session can be completed in a few minutes. Give this factor careful thought before buying a tooth whitening item.

Right Levels of Ingredients – Both hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide are active agents in teeth whitening gels. While regular teeth whitening toothpaste cleans the surface only, these chemicals go below the top layer of the teeth and clean out hidden stains. However, like any other chemical, high concentration levels can damage the tissues in the mouth, the mucous membrane and the gums and skin. Hence, it is necessary to know which concentration levels are safe for your teeth.

Buy products with hydrogen peroxide levels of 6% and below and carbamide peroxide levels at 35%. Anything above this can be dangerous for your health. Dentists of course use agents with 10% hydrogen peroxide to remove stubborn stains but then they are trained professionals in this field. Make it a point to read the label on the product carefully if you are buying from a retail store and the catalogue if you are ordering online.

Research Online – There are a lot of health-related websites that give product reviews of newly introduced items. These are valuable sources of information as the products are tested multiple times before a review is published. Moreover, you will also get "before" "after" photos so you will know the value of a product and how much it is useful in cleaning stained and yellow teeth.

Removing tough and deep stains from teeth is not easy but once you know what to do, things should be a breeze for you.