Learning to Manage Your Dental Problems

Best Methods For Tooth Whitening

12 May 2016 by Charlotte Beck

Many people consider tooth whitening as a necessity instead of the luxury it used to be. The practice has become so widespread that it is now the norm. Although a professional treatment will almost always give you better results, you can use OTC products to at least make your teeth a shade or two lighter. However, you need to be careful about which products your choose and how you use them.

Toothpastes

Whitening toothpaste contains mild abrasives that are effective on surface stains. They do not penetrate to the deep inner tooth, so if that area is discolored, you will not see a great deal of improvement, even if you use the whitening toothpaste religiously. Using these products will potentially make your teeth about one shade lighter, a result that is satisfactory if you only have mild surface staining. For those people with quite dark teeth, toothpaste use will not be enough to significantly help.

Strips and Gels

People tend to buy these over-the-counter products because they are so much cheaper than professional whitening treatments. Of course, they simply are not as effective. Many tooth whitening strips do work better than whitening toothpaste and can lighten your teeth by several shades. Gel-filled molds are probably slightly less effective. You do risk tooth and gum sensitivity if you are not careful, and if you over-use these products, you could damage your teeth.

Professional Whitening

Although people choose to whiten their teeth at home to save money, they may actually be throwing money away since they will not get the results that they want. Investing in a professional treatment can ultimately save you money while giving you the bright smile that you desire. Your dentist can use a strong bleaching solution on your teeth while carefully monitoring the procedure to protect your enamel and your gums. They can also incorporate a laser to make the whitening process more effective. If you do not want to go this route, you can opt for a take-home tooth whitening kit from your dentist and use it under their supervision. These kits are much stronger in general than the bleach you buy OTC.

OTC tooth whiteners can modestly improve the look of your teeth without causing problems if you follow the directions. However, if you want a drastic improvement in shade, you need to have your teeth professionally whitened. The cost is significantly higher, but the results are much better and will last for some time. Consult with a cosmetic dentist in your area about the tooth whitening options open to you.

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