tooth whitening ideas?

my teeth are not yellow, they are just a bit dull from having been in braces for a long time. i certainley would like to make them brighter. do any of the at home whitening things work? in a short period of time? which ones? and also, what has your experience been with whitening procedures done by the dentist? are their different procedures they can perform? and how much do they generally cost? thank you!
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the dentist usually has two options. 1. whitening in the chair. The dentist applies the whitening solution for you and in an hours time your teeth should be shades lighter. A kit is given you to take home aswell. This procedure is the most expensive, generally 700 - 900 dollars. 2. Whitening Kit. The dentist will give a whitening kit to take home and you can whiten your teeth at home. Impressions will have to be taken to make a bleach tray for you. It will usually cost 400 - 600 dollars. I'm not too sure about products in supermarkets. Some brands have higher ingrediants (not too sure what ingrediant) than others and this can ruin the enamel on your teeth. Toothpastes dont work. Dentists can give you an idea on what its the best for you. remember, if you whiten your teeth be careful what you eat or drink. Foods and drinks can stain easily. You dentist can let you know which ones. And when you do get your teeth whiten, dont expect them to go extremly white. Some people's teeth go 6 shades whiter and others 2 shades lighter. Overall. its best to go to your dentist. If your not happy with the costs ask them about supermarket brands. If they dont know ask what ingrediants to look out for. then you know yourself which ones are better than others also, if your teeth do become sensitive, which is normal, ask your dentist for tooth mousse.You can use sensodyne tooth paste for sensitive teeth but tooth mousse is a better desensitiser and comes in different flavours! i use it and it really works!
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