Teeth whitening is one of the most commonly performed treatments at the dentist. There are many ways to whiten teeth so that they become brilliantly white.

Here are some tips that will help you get beautiful white teeth without having to have them whitened every time you go to the dentist.

Firstly, find out whether teeth whitening is an option for you. Children and adolescents, people with sensitive gums, pregnant or breastfeeding women and people allergic to peroxide should ask their dentist for advice before bleaching their teeth.
Also bear in mind that fillings and crowns do not bleach and that bleaching does not work on all stains.

Avoid the development of tooth discolouration. Food and beverages such as coffee, tea and red wine discolour teeth. Limit your consumption of these drinks or drink with a straw, which stains less. Smoking, of course, is a particular contributor to tooth discolouration.

Teeth that have been bleached do not stay bright white forever. You usually have to have a refresher treatment once or twice a year. If that sounds like too much of a commitment, it's better to make friends with your natural tooth colouring.

Whitestrip treatment. The Whitestrip is a popular method for whitening teeth. The strips are flexible and coated with a mild peroxide (superoxide) gel. They mould to the shape of the teeth and produce results within 5 to 10 days. Whitestrips for home use have a lower peroxide content than those used by the dentist, which is why they work a little more slowly.
The whitestrips from Blend-a-med are particularly recommended.

There are also ampoules that are filled with a whitening gel. The gel in the ampoule is rubbed onto the teeth once or twice a day. This method can cause irritation to the gums, but is more effective than whitestrips.

Whitening toothpaste. This is probably the cheapest method of whitening teeth, but the teeth are abraded by tiny particles, similar to an abrasive. In the long term, this can attack the tooth enamel and damage the teeth.

There are also impressions, either standard impressions or a custom-made impression for your teeth that is filled with a peroxide solution. This impression can be used for a few years, even if it costs a little more initially. This method takes one to three weeks, but is usually successful.

WhiteLight. This is a method in which the teeth are bleached by exposing them to light. This method is relatively new, but is said to show results after just 10 minutes. A set that lasts for three to five applications is available for around €30.

Finally, there is the option of having your teeth professionally whitened by a dentist. Although not cheap, it is the most effective method of whitening teeth without damaging them.