‘Most improvement’ noted in professional whitening treatments
Professional teeth-whitening treatments give the most dramatic results in the quickest time, reports US News and World Report.
The source stated that although often the most expensive option – priced between $500 (£256) and $1,000 in the US – the treatments are more convenient and show a more marked improvement than do-it-yourself kits.
However Matthew Messina, consumer adviser to the American Dental Association, warned: "Any tooth decay, cavities, periodontal disease and root or gum recession will have to be resolved before going ahead with whitening."
Other cosmetic dental treatments to correct stains or create a brighter shade include bonding which can be used to whiten a single tooth or veneers in extreme cases of discolouration, the source added.
However, whitening toothpastes can sometimes be effective, it continued, although Kenton Ross, spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry, recommended that the products are more successful in maintainingprofessionally-whitened teeth.
A survey for the British Dental Association found that 30 per cent of people judge others primarily by their smile when they first meet them.
