All over the world, DIY teeth whitening is becoming more popular by the day. Quality teeth whitening productsare selling in record volumes and walking around with a Hollywood smile has become the new norm.
The question being – why do people whiten their teeth?
It’s common knowledge that teeth are not in fact supposed to be white. In their natural form, teeth are a slightly off-white colour with a touch of yellow. It’s just that over the years, the natural colour of teeth has somehow been misinterpreted as unhealthy. Yellow-ish teeth certainly being less than pretty to look at, but in no way confirming any kind of oral health or hygiene issue.
Dentists across the UK collectively whiten the teeth of thousands of patients, every single day. Who in most instances have very specific reasons for doing so. Whether reaching for the best home teeth whitening kit on the market or heading to the dentist for a professional cleaning, these are the top 10 reasons adults in the UK made the decision to whiten their teeth:
1. Stain removal
The single most common reason for teeth whitening is to take care of basic stain removal. Red wine, coffee, tea etc – all the kinds of indulgences that can stain the teeth somewhat excessively. Quality teeth whitening products do a great job removing not only surface stains, but deeper stains attributed to these and other foods/drinks.
2. For help quitting smoking
How can teeth whitening possibly help you quit smoking? Over the months and years, smoking can have a devastating effect on oral health and hygiene. One inevitable effect of smoking is extremely heavy discoloration of the teeth. If you make the decision to quit smoking, you’ll of course need a ton of willpower to make it happen. Whitening your teeth can be surprisingly motivating, given how happy and confident you’ll be with your new smile. After which, you probably won’t want to destroy things by reaching for another cigarette, ever again!
3. For special occasions
Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, class reunions – all the kinds of events where you of course want to look your best. These days, a gleaming white smile really can make all the difference when it comes to personal appearance. As mentioned above, whiter teeth are (mistakenly) associated with the highest quality oral health and hygiene. Hence, they play a key role in looking good and keeping up appearances. In the run-up to a special event, you can bet your bottom dollar that at least half of all the guests will whiten their teeth in some way!
4. Job interviews
Are you really more likely to get the job if you whiten your teeth before the interview? Yes, but it has nothing to do with your appearance. Instead, it’s the way in which your whiter teeth will fill you with the kind of confidence that could make all the difference during your interview. A neat and tidy appearance is of course important, but not nearly as important as the confidence to perform at your absolute best.
5. An everyday confidence boost
Speaking of which, there’s much to be said for the general confidence and self-esteem that accompany a beautiful white smile. It’s difficult to approach every day with a sense of confidence if you don’t have confidence in your appearance. Particularly when it comes to your smile, it’s important to have the kind of smile you’re happy and confident to share with the world. In some instances, teeth whitening really can contribute to better quality of life, every single day.
6. To look younger
Discoloration of the teeth is a natural part of the aging process and one that (technically) cannot be avoided. Nevertheless, it’s not to say that the effects of this particular aspect of the aging process cannot be effectively hidden. Yellow teeth have the potential to make any individual look significantly older than they actually are. By contrast, whiter teeth are associated with youthfulness and therefore have the exact opposite effect.
7. It’s quick and easy
Now more than ever, undergoing absolutely any type of teeth whitening process is faster and easier than it has ever been. Precisely why millions who would previously have never considered whitening their teeth are now doing exactly that on a regular basis. Professional treatments are quicker and more effective than ever before, DIY kits are surprisingly capable and affordable – there’s really never been a better time to give teeth whitening a try.
8. Simple curiosity
On that same note, thousands are whitening their teeth at some point or another due to nothing more than curiosity. They wonder if and to what extent it will make any kind of difference whatsoever, so they make the decision to go ahead and give it a go. In most instances, those concerned find themselves just as hooked on the whole whitening thing as everyone else! It’s not until you see yourself with a gleaming white smile that you realise just how big of a difference effective teeth whitening can make.
9. Better oral hygiene
Whiter teeth are not necessarily healthier or more hygienic teeth. Nevertheless, research suggests that those who whiten their teeth pay significantly closer attention to their oral health and hygiene than those with no interest in tooth discolouration. The reason being that if you want to preserve your gleaming white smile for as long as possible, you need to be proactive about it. Avoiding certain foods and drinks, using quality toothpaste and mouthwashes, flossing, visiting your dentist on a regular basis and so on – all the kinds of positive behaviours naturally encouraged following successful teeth whitening.
10. It’s cheap!
Last but not least, DIY teeth whitening products and kits are becoming more affordable and accessible all the time. In fact, you can pick up a decent quality kit capable of getting the job done right now for next to nothing. Hence, if you’ve ever been even slightly curious about teeth whitening in general, there’s never been a better or cheaper time to take the plunge and see what all the fuss is about!
