Many people feel that having a whiter smile would increase their chances of attracting members of the opposite sex.
As first impressions are key, and one's face is one of the first things a potential mate sees, then the smile can potentially be the piece that seals the deal.
Those who smoke cigarettes or drink a lot of coffee are especially sensitive about how their teeth look because it is widely known that these habits will stain the enamel and make even the nicest smile dingy.
There are a lot of people who do not realize that frequent drinking of dark or colored sodas can discolor the teeth due to the caramel coloring.
Regardless of why the color of one's teeth is not up to par, baking soda teeth whitening can be the answer.
Baking soda teeth whitening can be found in many of the available products on the market today.
From pastes to strips, a professional procedure to at home remedies, baking soda is included as one of the active brightening ingredients.
Many times, peroxide is included in the mix also.
With all of these items containing similar ingredients, how does one know which product will suit their needs? The baking soda teeth whitening methods are all effective, but depending on the severity of one's enamel discoloration, some will work better than others.
For example, toothpastes which include baking soda teeth whitening will be effective for those who don't have habits which stain their teeth.
Those who smoke a rare cigarette, drink a random cup of coffee each month or avoid soda likely do not require much more than a brightening paste to counteract their slight discoloration.
Those who indulge in these things more often will find that baking soda teeth whitening in the form of a paste is not quite enough to make a visible difference in the color of their teeth.
In this case, baking soda teeth whitening strips will be required.
As the active ingredients are allowed to sit on the teeth for a longer period of time, the effects are greater with these items as opposed to pastes.
For the worst discoloration, laser treatments by licensed professionals can be the answer if one is looking for immediate results.
Beyond the staggering cost, there are risks associated with these procedures.
A good number of people who have opted for laser treatments over other baking soda teeth whitening methods have experienced increased teeth sensitivity to heat and cold, and in some cases, damage to their tooth enamel.
Damaged enamel normally means the opportunity for severe discoloration and weakness in the future.
Standard baking soda teeth whitening methods are not only safe, but cost much less than the professional treatments.