Putting a shine on it: Teeth whitening options broken down

It’s something that was once reserved for the rich and famous, but teeth whitening has become something that has become completely accessible to the masses. It’s something that’s offered in pretty much every dental practice in the country; whether you turn to an orthodontist Farnham has, or a practitioner in another part of the country.

However, while it has become more open than ever before, it still ‘feels’ complicated to a lot of people. Realising the difference between the various at-home treatments, compared to the dentist’s chair, is something that is vital if you are looking to reap the whitest results.

Following on from the above, let’s take a look at all of the teeth whitening options in detail.

Professional in-office whitening

Let’s start with the most extreme form of whitening; although we use the term ‘extreme’ very lightly nowadays. Sure, in-office whitening might yield the best results, but as we’ve already discussed it’s a very straightforward procedure that dentists are now used to carrying out on a daily basis.

The benefit of this option in comparison to some of the others we’ll look at is the strength of the substances that your dentist will use. They are able to utilize strong forms of peroxide, with this combing with a whitening gel to create a much more significant effect.

While there are now umpteen ways to approach this form of whitening, some dentists will even turn to light sources such as a laser so that the ‘gel’ is activated more quickly and the whitening effect can be enhanced.

Whitening toothpastes

At the other end of the spectrum we have whitening toothpastes. While the marketing spiel behind these products might be impressive, we should point out that they yield results which are far less noticeable than the in-office solution.

Toothpastes of this ilk won’t bleach your teeth, which is the main difference, but they can still improve your whiteness by one shade which is sufficient for some people.

Whitening rinses

Another option which is nowhere near as effective as the in-office option comes in the form of a rinse. Once again, it’s all about simplicity and cost here, with rinses being available over-the-counter and at least having the ability to mildly whiten your smile.

The amount of peroxide in these products tends to be very low, but the fact they act as a mouthwash as well makes them favourable amongst a lot of people who don’t want to go as far as a professional solution.

Whitening trays

This is perhaps one of the more interesting options, particularly as whitening trays can be bought over-the-counter. In this case, they don’t tend to be hugely effective, for the simple reason that they are not customized to your teeth and therefore the gel won’t stay in contact as long.

If you were to turn to a tray provided by your dentist, the effects can be much more significant. This is because they will be tailored to your teeth, allowing the gel to be in contact for much longer periods.