Teeth Whitening
Teeth Whitening
There are various processes and techniques used for teeth whitening and some of them can be done at home. There’s no question that whiter teeth can make you look younger and give you more confidence. The question may be whether home teeth whitening treatments are as effective as dental-office procedures, even though they’re cheaper.
Examples of home teeth whitening products include custom-fitted bleaching kits from the dentist office, store-bought whitening gels, whitening strips, bleach-based pastes and trays, chewing gums, flosses and mouthwashes.
Most teeth whitening bleaches are hydrogen-peroxide-based and some home solutions may be close to dentistry-grade bleaching agents. In the dental office, whitening gel is applied to the teeth, and a LED laser light is used to accelerate whitening, so you can see results, in an hour. At home, the process may be slow, awkward and uncomfortable or a total waste of time.
The important thing to realize is the procedure can make your teeth more sensitive to heat and cold, while also makes them more susceptible to future staining. When done gradually or professionally, these risks exist, but they may be lessened by natural teeth-bleaching products.
With some cosmetic dentistry options, you may need to schedule a few appointments, to get the results you want. You will definitely see a difference, but you should expect to spend an hour and more than a thousand dollars, in most cases. With home teeth whitening kits, you can spend $15 to $100, but you may not get the results you are looking for, if your teeth are severely-stained.
Teeth-whitening strips may not cover the entire tooth area, leaving distinct marks at the edges of where the whitening strips were placed. Whitening toothpastes and chewing gums or flosses may not work on heavy staining, but for minor cases and routine maintenance, they can keep your smile whiter, over a period of time.
Most home teeth whitening kits can be purchased at the local drug store and they may include trays and pastes. While wearing soft-plastic trays, to protect your gums and mouth from oxidation, your enamel is bleached, giving your teeth a whiter appearance. These can be messy and trays may not be custom-fitted to your mouth.
Many people prefer to talk with a cosmetic dentist about home teeth whitening kits, since they can take impressions of your mouth and give you a stronger bleaching agent. While these may be more expensive than the over-the-counter teeth whitening kits, they are also more effective.
If you have a dentist, you may want to ask for recommendations, since they are most familiar with effective brands or types of teeth whitening products. Some people have their initial whitening procedure performed by a cosmetic dentist and use home teeth whitening kits, to maintain their whiter smile.
Coffee, tea, fruit punches, nicotine and other things you use everyday could be causing discoloration of your teeth’s enamel. It’s important to realize that teeth whitening can make your enamel more susceptible to these stains, so you may need to eliminate or limit your exposure to them, after having your teeth professionally-whitened. While a tooth-whitening professional can quickly transform your smile, there are a few home teeth whitening products that are more effective than others and they are certainly cheaper than a dental office whitening procedure.
