Teeth Whitening
One of the first things people notice when they meet you is your smile. If you feel less confident because of the color of your teeth, you may consider teeth whitening services and products as a great way to bring back the shine to your smile!
The ordinary wear and tear of life can cause your teeth to become discolored – even if you brush and floss regularly! Everyday things like coffee, red wine, dark fruits and veggies, and tobacco wear down the enamel on your teeth and cause unsightly staining. With age, some people develop yellowed or darkened teeth, often determined by genetic heredity.
What’s the difference between at-home and dental office teeth whiteners?
There are many options out there to help you make your teeth whiter and give you a brighter smile.
Much like a home DIY project, there are resources out there that let consumers do their own work, but professional-grade is universally considered stronger and more effective.
There are easy over-the-counter kits at your local drug store. In general, they only contain 6% peroxide, while professional-grade teeth whitening products can contain as much as 35% peroxide.
In addition, because of their extra strength, professional-grade teeth whiteners are more efficient and effective, requiring far fewer applications.
What are the procedures I can have done at my dentist’s office?
The most common treatment at a dentist’s office to brighten your smile is the use of custom-fit trays. Plus, as mentioned above, dentists are able to use more effective and stronger products in the office than are available over-the-counter.
When you visit a dentist for teeth whitening, they’ll mold a tray to fit your teeth perfectly, fill the tray with a professional-strength bleaching solution, then fit the tray firmly over your teeth.
Often a halogen light or a heat source is used to speed up the process. This accelerates the whitening agent used by the dentist and results in much faster treatment.
Treatment at the dentist’s office is more effective, has fewer side effects like irritated gums, and is the quickest way to achieve a brighter smile.
Which teeth whitening treatment is right for me?
In the end, the best solution for you is the one that you are most comfortable with. At-home whiteners are relatively cheap and easy to use, but if you have sensitive gums or teeth you may want to use professional dental services to avoid irritation.
The dentist has the ability to use stronger solutions than those available over-the-counter, so it can make your teeth whiter much more quickly.
Convenience is also a factor to consider. You can use at-home solutions whenever you’d like in the convenience of your home. But also remember that most in-office treatments that your dentist provides can be completed over a lunch-break appointment.
In addition to convenience, length of treatment plays a key role. When you schedule that lunch-break appointment with your dentist it may very well be the only treatment you’ll need, while over-the-counter products require multiple treatments over a prolonged period of time.
No need to wait – get the brighter smile you crave by talking to your dentist today!