Like most people, your smile is important to you. When your smile appears to be stained or discolored, you might be hesitant to share your smile. Fortunately, whitening your teeth can help you get back your pearly white smile. However, you have to be careful if you are planning to do it yourself. Here are some precautions you should take:

Ask Your Dentist for a Custom Tray 

Teeth whitening kits that you find at your local pharmacy do come with their own trays. However, the trays are generic and designed to fit anyone who uses the kits. Unfortunately, even though the kits are advertised as one-size-fits-all, they actually are not.  

A loose or tight fit could mean that whitening gel is pushed into other areas of your mouth. It could also mean that the whitening gel ends up missing the teeth you are targeting and instead touches other teeth. The result could be over-whitening in some areas and under-whitening in others.  

To guarantee that the whitening tray that you use is absolutely right for your mouth, you should get a custom tray from your dentist. The tray will ensure the gel does not move to other areas and cause problems like irritation.  

Skip the Salon Whitening 

Some salons have technicians on staff who can whiten your teeth before or after getting a manicure or facial. Although it might seem logical and convenient, you should avoid going to a salon for a teeth whitening.  

Salon technicians do not have the same training as a dentist does and as a result, he or she might apply the whitening gel for too long. You could experience several problems as a result, including teeth sensitivity. There is also the concern that the equipment that is being used might not be sterilized properly between uses.  

Although at-home whitening kits are not the best option for your teeth, they might be safer than the salon. However, the safest option still remains going to the dentist.  

Do Not Use Whitening Gel on the Wrong Teeth 

Regardless of what whitening kits might claim, you cannot use the kits on all tooth surfaces. If you do, the results could be disastrous and result in an expensive repair bill from your dentist.  

For instance, if you have porcelain veneers, the whitening gel can strip the surface of the veneers and take away its sheen. As a result, the veneer will not look natural any longer and you will need to have it restored by your dentist.  

For more tips and information, check out a website like http://www.vfdental.com.