I just got my braces off and my teeth are straight, but they’re yellow! Will anything help whiten my teeth?

Bummer. But wait—it’s probably not as bad as you think, and there are ways to turn those pearlies white. William Hull, DDS, says bleaching brightens teeth that are discolored, stained or darkened. The chemical solution is an oxidizing agent that is painted onto the teeth, and a special light activates the agent.

There are two types of bleaching. Chair side bleaching is done at the dentist’s office in a few half-hour visits. With Nightguard bleaching, a mouth guard is made for the patient to wear at night with pre-measured amounts of bleaching gel. The American Dental Association confirms that bleaching is safe but recommends a dentist supervises the treatment.

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