The Most Effective Way to Get Whiter Teeth

Cosmopolitan got all the answers you need for brilliant white teeth from Dr. Kevin Sands.

Dr. Sands is the cosmetic dentist who tends to a heap of celebrity mouths in Hollywood, along with starring on the Netflix series Celebrity Plastic Surgeons of Beverly Hills.

Lap up his expert advice below for a brilliant smile in no time!

If you are wanting white teeth in an hour: "Crest WhiteStrips are the best option," says Sands. Don't bother with lip glosses that promise a whitening effect—"it's just a gimmick"—and instead wear a bright lipstick (just not an orange-toned shade) to give the illusion of a brighter smile.

Skip: Hydrogen peroxide whitening pens. "The results, if any, are so subtle, and the con is that without a tray, the bleaching agent is rubbed off too quickly to actually do anything significant."

For white teeth in 24 hours: "In-office Zoom Whitening is the fastest and best way to get big results in a short amount of time," says Sands. 

White teeth in a week: Do the above, plus add extra baking soda to your toothpaste.

Buy: A Philips Sonicare DiamondClean. It's the best of the best when it comes to toothbrushes, according to nearly every dentist that Cosmopolitan spoke to.

Pearly whites in a month: Do the above, along with brushing with activated charcoal three to four times per week. Also gargle with coconut oil to get those deep tooth stains out. "It won't make a difference by 'bleaching' per se, but the lauric acid in coconut oil can rid your teeth of bacteria found in plaque that can make them yellow. It is also supposed to promote gum health, and help keep your breath fresh," says Sands.

Skip: Using at-home whitening strips more than twice a year. "You can overdue it and create overly sensitized teeth. Stripping too much enamel can not only damage your teeth, but also your gums, plus some at-home whitening products can result in an artificial white that doesn't look natural."

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