Best Teeth Whitening Options

Best Teeth Whitening Options

Teeth whitening can whiten your teeth by several shades.

If you’ve been considering whitening your teeth, then you probably are aware of the countless options which are available out there. However, if you want the absolute best results, then your options are narrowed down to: 

• Professional in-office teeth whitening 
• Take-home whitening trays
• Whitening strips

These whitening techniques all apply a high concentration of Carbamide Peroxide or Hydrogen Peroxide onto your teeth surfaces. The peroxide breaks down the stains and helps whiten your teeth. 

Professional In-office Teeth Whitening

This is teeth whitening which you can only receive from your dentist. Naturally, this is the quickest and most effective whitening treatment which exists. The whitening gel brand that your dentist uses is very important. Popular, effective brands include Zoom, Kor, Ivori and Boost to name a few. 

Before you qualify for an in-office tooth whitening, you need to undergo a full exam and cleaning. If you are a candidate, your whitening treatment will begin with isolating your gums. This is done by placing a barrier to protect your gums from accidental contamination. After isolating your gums, the whitening gel is carefully applied onto visible teeth surfaces. Some in-office whitening treatments use a light source which activates the bleaching agent for even better results. Most chair-side whitening treatments take 45 minutes to an hour. You should expect your teeth to turn several shades whiter after just one treatment.

Why can’t I just whiten my teeth at home instead of going to the dentist? 

The bleaching material that your dentist uses is very strong. As a result, it needs to be applied in a controlled environment and by a trained professional. Otherwise, the bleach can contaminate and burn your gums or cause tooth sensitivity. This can be very painful and may cause irreversible damage to your teeth and/or gums.

Take-Home Whitening Trays 

Whitening trays are custom designed trays which are made by your dentist to fit onto your teeth. Custom trays are made using moldings of your teeth. You begin your treatment by placing the whitening gel inside these trays. Next, you position the trays carefully onto your teeth. The whitening gel comes in contact with your teeth and starts to whiten them over time. Whitening trays need to be applied for several hours a day, a few days a week, as per instructions. The good thing about take-home trays is that the trays can be reused as long as you have enough bleaching material to go with them. This means you can continue to maintain your whiter teeth over time.

Whitening Strips

Whitening strips work similarly to custom trays. The major difference is that you can buy whitening strips over-the-counter and fit them yourself. You simply apply the whitening strips onto your teeth. The gel within the whitening strips begins to gradually whiten your teeth. As with whitening trays, whitening strips need to be applied for several hours at a time and worn a few days in a row, as per instructions. 

Conclusion

Everyone wants to have beautiful, white teeth and teeth whitening may just be your answer to whiter teeth. However, before you go and invest a ton of money into whitening your teeth, it is important to make sure that you are a good candidate for whitening. For instance, if your teeth have turned yellow as a result of acid wear, grinding, aging, discolored fillings, etc. you may not be a good candidate. Similarly, if your teeth are covered in tartar, are hyper-sensitive, have intrinsic discoloration, etc. you may not be a good candidate either. 

It is best to consult with your dentist first to see if you are a good candidate and discuss your treatment options. Lots of treatments, such as whitening strips, toothpastes and peroxide mouthwashes, are inexpensive and can be performed safely at home. Nevertheless, it is best to make sure that no harm is going to come to your teeth and that you're going to get satisfactory results. If you live in Southern California and would like to learn more about teeth whitening options, feel free to schedule your complimentary consultation with us. 

Brush 'n Floss Yo Teeth!

Ali John Jazayeri, DDS