Everybody wants a picture-perfect smile. Chairside or professional teeth whitening can increase the aesthetic allure of your teeth far more than over-the-counter whitening products can do. Because of advancement in modern technology, teeth whitening has become simpler, easier, and more affordable.
Remember that nothing can substitute professional teeth whitening treatment. While you may find a lot of teeth whitening products online or in drug stores, you don’t have a guarantee that these will work and give amazing results.
In this post, you’ll learn the benefits of professional teeth whitening.
Your Safest Option
Teeth whitening treatments don’t typically present any significant safety concerns. Whether teeth whitening is performed at home or in our office, dentists ensure a safe environment for patients. A dentist can help you right away if ever you experience issues, such as discomfort and extreme sensitivity.
Also, a dentist can advise you if tooth discoloration results from any underlying factor that won’t respond to teeth whitening treatment. It may include genetics, digestive problems, and other medical conditions, and lifestyle. It will save your teeth from excessive whitening, which can cause dental damage. Also, it minimizes expecting impossible results.
Here are the most popular teeth whitening options:
- Teeth Whitening Toothpastes: Brushing your teeth at least two times a day using toothpaste with mild abrasive can help remove surface stains from the teeth. Many whitening kinds of toothpaste use special chemicals or polishing agents that can boost the toothpaste’s whitening effectiveness. Teeth whitening toothpaste is only suitable for surface stains. It usually takes several weeks to see visible results.
- Teeth Whitening Strips and Gels: These are teeth whitening products that are available over-the-counter, which are peroxide-based. Teeth whitening gels are applied to the teeth using a small brush. The results are visible after a few days, which last for about four months. On the other hand, whitening strips are practically clear strips covered with peroxide-based gel. It’s applied twice a day for about 30 minutes every time. The results occur within a few days, which should last for about four months.
- Teeth Bleaching: It is considered the most effective method of teeth whitening performed by a dentist. That’s why it’s best to invest in an effective chairside whitening option. Bleaching agents contain 15 to 43 percent hydrogen peroxide. Most patients see immediate results following a 30 or 60-minute teeth bleaching treatment. Several appointments are required for drastic results.
Get a Thorough Whitening
A professional teeth whitening treatment provides benefits one can’t obtain from an over-the-counter dental product. Most whitening treatments available at drugstores usually come in a single strength and size to fit all possible types of teeth.
Every patient has unique and different needs. While teeth whitening strips and trays found at local drugstores may provide decent results, these are only partial whitening. You get uneven results wherein some of your teeth may appear perfectly white but others still show some stains.
Here are the common causes of tooth discoloration:
- Food and Drinks: Coffee, colas, tea, wine, and some fruits and vegetables, like apples and potatoes
- Medications: Antibiotics like tetracycline and doxycycline; Antihistamines (Benadryl); Antipsychotic medications; and anti-hypertensive drugs.
- Tobacco Use: Chewing or smoking tobacco.
- Disease and Treatment: Infections during pregnancy, chemotherapy, and head and neck radiation
- Poor Dental Hygiene: Not thoroughly brushing, flossing, or rinsing the teeth with an antiseptic mouthwash
- Dental Materials: Amalgam restorations (silver sulfide-containing materials) may cause gray-black teeth
- Genetics and Excessive Fluoride: naturally high fluoride water level or from excessive use of fluoride applications, toothpaste, rinses, and fluoride supplements
- Trauma: Damage from a fall disturbs enamel formation among young children with developing teeth.
- Advancing Age: The outer layer of enamel wears away as a person grows older, revealing the dentin’s natural yellow color.
Long-lasting Results with Professional Strength Teeth Whitening
During a professional teeth whitening treatment, your dentist will evenly apply a whitening gel to each tooth. It’s activated with a special curing lamp. In that way, your teeth retain the same whiteness and brightness levels.
The teeth whitening options or products you can buy in stores only contain a small amount or low strength of whitening agent. These are applicable for light teeth stains, but not much for intrinsic or severe stains. While most over-the-counter teeth whitening products provide two shades brighter, dentists use professional-strength up to 35 percent of peroxide. The gel penetrates the tooth enamel well, removing stubborn stains that store-bought kits can’t reach. Professional teeth whitening treatment can whiten your teeth up to ten shades in a single dental visit.
Quick Teeth Whitening Treatment
You need to use the whitening products available at your local pharmacy for weeks or months before noticeable results are seen. Some products won’t even show remarkable improvement or your desired results. Treatment time for in-office teeth whitening lasts for about an hour, producing positive results up to ten shades brighter.
Get to Choose Your Shade
Your dentist can help you customize the teeth whitening level that each patient receives. You need to let your dentist know if you want a shade whiter or two shades brighter. You probably want to have the whitest teeth possible, so your dentist can adjust the whitening agent’s strength, providing you the desired results.
Comfortable Treatment
One of the adverse effects of using over-the-counter whitening treatments is teeth sensitivity and pain while using these commercial teeth whitening products. It’s a result of hydrogen ions penetrating the teeth surface or the whitening agent coming in contact with the gums or lips due to incorrectly sized strips or trays.
A professional whitening treatment involves your dentist placing a protective gum covering to avoid contact with the teeth whitening agent. A fluoride treatment will be advised to cut down teeth sensitivity. Also, a dentist can provide you a take-home kit that comes with a gel which is thick enough to avoid leaks and remain in the trays.
Conclusion
Teeth whitening treatment can be done at home or in a dental clinic. Over-the-counter teeth whitening treatments may offer good results, but if you want a long-term result, you need professional help. Dentists offer a wide range of teeth whitening options, from gels to lasers. Choosing the best one for you will make sure that you have a whiter and brighter smile.