Want Whiter Teeth? Hear From a Dental Professional What Really Works! by Cheryl Leahy

As a lover of red wine and coffee, my teeth have definitely suffered the yellow discoloration that I despise. I have tried everything, from whitening strips to activated charcoal to baking soda with barely noticeable results. I finally asked my dentist, Dr. Steve Bacalar with sMilin Dental, what really works! Here are a few of his answers:

• "A majority of my patients have tried over-the-counter whitening strips and pastes. Typically the results are mediocre but not great. For patients who want an exceptional outcome, I recommend custom trays with professional whitening products, due to their ease of use, ability to control the amount of whitening, and typical excellent improvement in lightening tooth color."

• "Abrasive tooth pastes/brushes and aggressive brushing is a huge factor in worsening gum recession."

• "We take high-resolution photographs of every patient and use them in conjunction with shade guides to determine a starting shade prior to beginning the whitening process and customize treatment using different concentrations or formulas."

Cheers to loving your smile!

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