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We all want bright white smiles, but what is the best way to go about that? Here, our Vernon dentists discuss your options for teeth whitening, professionally and at-home.
What is teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure that uses bleaching agents to give your teeth a whiter appearance. Some people don't realize that there is more than one method of getting your teeth whitened, though! Below, our Vernon dentists go over some options.
What are my options for teeth whitening?
Today, you have a number of options for whitening your teeth. It can be difficult to choose the right one, and each has its advantages and can offer positive results. As with any other procedure, there are also some disadvantages to each.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
Professional dental whitening that happens in-office is the most effective method. This is because the whitening agents in your dentist’s gel are stronger and produce better results than at-home options. Additionally, in-office whitening tends to be applied more evenly across all of the teeth.
The procedure usually takes about an hour. Your dentist will use a concentrated whitening solution to remove surface stains from your teeth and lighten their natural colour. This yields somewhat more efficient results than at-home whitening solutions, which take days or weeks to work.
At-Home Professional Teeth Whitening Trays
This take-home option would be supervised by your dentist. During an initial visit to your dentist, a dental impression will be created to make your whitening trays.
You’ll take the whitening trays home and manage the teeth whitening application yourself. You’ll wear the whitening gel for between 30 minutes to a few hours a day, for 1 to 3 weeks depending on what your dentist prescribes.
The whitening solution will gradually remove surface stains from your teeth and lighten their natural colour.
Toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste can sometimes be effective in brightening your teeth a shade or two. Keep in mind, though, that it can only do so much to the very surface level of your teeth, and nothing underneath.
Enamel strengthening toothpaste can help to defend your teeth from cavities and protect your enamel from further damage, which can prevent stains from developing in the first place.
Whitening Strips
These small plastic strips are coated with peroxide-based gel. When you apply the strip to your teeth, the peroxide coating removes surface stains, lightening the colour of your teeth.
You would typically apply whitening strips daily for a 2- to 3-week period, and keep them on for no more than 30 minutes at a time. Because these products contain only a small amount of peroxide, you will usually see only subtle results.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are razor-thin strips of porcelain that are affixed to the fronts of your teeth to improve their colour, shape and symmetry.
If only one or a few of your teeth are discoloured, porcelain veneers may be a practical solution to even out the colour of your teeth.
How do I know which are the best teeth whitening products?
There are some outside factors to consider when picking a tooth whitening option, from what you're personally comfortable with to your budget.
You may want to consider looking up teeth whitening reviews online for tips and ideas from other people who have opted to take the professional and/or at-home route.