4 Simple and Affordable Options to Whiten and Straighten Your Teeth

Posted on: 13 March 2017


When your teeth are crooked and unsightly, you may dread the idea of having painful and downright ugly braces for several years, or may be frustrated with trying whitening products from the pharmacy that seem to offer few results. The good news is, you don't need to worry about uncomfortable braces that take years to work, and you don't need to keep throwing money away at the pharmacy on ineffective whitening products. Note a few simple and affordable options for whitening and straightening your teeth, which your own family dentist can probably provide, without needing the services of a cosmetic dentist.

1. Lasers

Lasers can remove years of surface stains from the teeth, and they do so much more effectively and safely than whitening products. They can also be used to shape and form teeth so that they look straight and even. Lasers can also quickly and painlessly cut away overgrown gums so that undersized teeth look larger and more attractive.

2. Trays

Dental trays are much more comfortable than braces and are virtually invisible, but if you only need a few teeth straightened, they can be used just to fit over the top or just the bottom teeth, and in some cases, they can be made to fit just a few teeth in front. These trays can be firm enough to nudge teeth into place, and they can also be used to hold a bleach in place, so that it more easily penetrates the enamel of your teeth, whitening them while straightening them.

3. Partial braces

Partial braces are just as they sound; they wrap around just your front teeth and straighten these, rather than being applied to an entire row of teeth. They can be less painful than a full set of braces, which may not even be needed if you're only concerned about the appearance of your teeth. They may also only be needed for a few months if they're being installed to just nudge teeth into alignment and aren't needed to realign your entire jaw.

4. Veneers

Veneers are glued to the front of teeth, like a false front. Veneers will be whiter than your natural teeth and can also be set in such a way that teeth will look straight. Veneers are also especially good for making undersized teeth look larger. If you just need a quick fix to improve the appearance of your teeth, and especially just the ones in front, they can be an affordable and easy solution.