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There are many practical and safe methods you can use for teeth whitening to improve your smile, but which is the best option for you? While you explore the various methods, some have quicker results while some are less expensive but require more effort and time. Here’s an overview of the various options.
Teeth Whitening Tooth Pastes & Rinses
There are a number of oral hygiene products that can remove stains and improve the white appearance of your teeth. Most toothpastes have an abrasive ingredient to brush stains, and additional ingredients such as peroxide, baking soda, or sodium tripolyphosphate, which dissolve stains.
Tooth whitening rinses will also freshen your breath while reducing dental plaque and gum disease apart from whitening your teeth. While these products can prevent and remove surface stains, they will not truly whiten your teeth or change their color as much as the professional whitening treatments.
We have our favorite brands and for recommendations on tooth pastes and rinses, contact us.
Over-the-Counter Teeth Whitening Kits
You can get over-the-counter teeth whitening kits in various forms such as liquids, strips, gels, and tray-based teeth whitening methods. Most of these products have hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide as the bleaching ingredients. While these products can provide better results due to high concentrations of bleaching agents, they can increase your gum or tooth sensitivity.
If you choose to use liquids and gels, you will need to brush them directly onto the surface of your teeth. You will also need to apply the liquid or the gel twice daily and let it set for up to 30 minutes every time. You will notice the results within a few days, with more significant results within about 14 days.
Another available over-the-counter whitening product is the nearly invisible tooth whitening strips. You will need to coat them with a whitening gel and mold them onto your teeth for up to 30 minutes, twice daily. The results are likely to be similar to the whitening gels, with initial evidence within a few days and considerably whiter teeth within 14 days.
Professional-Grade Teeth Whitening Kits
There are some professional grade whitening options available only for purchase from your dentist. These often are more powerful than over-the-counter but your dentist will explain the application method and you can often still apply them yourself at home.
In some cases, your dentist will need to create customized whitening trays for you to use these professional grade products. Similar to over-the-counter products, you will likely need to apply a peroxide rich gel in the trays.
We offer a professional grade teeth whitening product called Opalescence. Contact us for more info.
In-office Teeth Whitening Options
The in-office teeth whitening options are typically the quickest path to a whiter smile but you will need to schedule an in-office appointment. Dentists utilize different methods, but typically the process involves applying peroxide agents to your teeth either directly or in trays. The whitening process is accelerated by using a laser or a light source.
The great advantage you will get with in-office teeth whitening is the instant result and you can improve your smile up to five shades or more rather quickly. In some cases, you may experience some temporary tooth sensitivity.
If you want to know more about professional teeth whitening options customized for your individual needs, contact our Monroe, MI dental office for a consultation.