Learn More About Teeth Whitening and How it Can Help You

We offer teeth whitening to patients looking to improve their smile.  Looking your best has been proven to get people ahead in today’s highly competitive world. In the past, stained teeth would put a damper on the perfect smile and make it harder for you to have a winning look. Luckily, with the advances in dental technology, it is easier than ever to get a brighter, whiter smile. Not only have there been significant advances in technology used by dentists, but also a number of over the counter, do it yourself solutions have become available. Before getting started, it is important to understand the differences between an over the counter solution and one that you can get in the dentist’s office.

Here are some questions we are commonly asked in our dental office:

Are teeth solutions available over the counter effective?

The simple answer is yes. In fact, many dentists will recommend whitening toothpaste in between visits to keep teeth looking bright after a professional treatment has been completed.

There are a few things to remember about the do it yourself approach, however. For example, the teeth whitening effect of a store bought solution is not going to respond as quickly, and it will take longer to get your teeth white. When you purchase a solution from the store, its hydrogen peroxide content, which is the primary whitening agent, is around 3%. Compared to this we use a much stronger range of products with hydrogen peroxide levels of between 15% and 43%. The reason this strength is only available in the dentist’s office is that the strength of the solution requires your gums and soft tissue be protected from the harsh chemicals. Since there is no way of protecting your mouth at home when using generic products, the hydrogen peroxide levels are far lower. While this doesn’t mean that the products will not work, it definitely means that it will take more persistence and a longer time to get the white teeth you are looking for. Simultaneously some difficult stains may not come up.

What is the major benefit to professional teeth whitening? When your teeth are whitened professionally, we can provide you with customized whitening trays that fit your teeth perfectly and feel entirely comfortable.  This way the solution will not leak out, like it is known to do with the store bought products.  This is in addition to getting your teeth drastically whiter than they can get with over the counter products.

We always recommend consulting with a dentist before whitening your teeth for health reasons. There is more to teeth whitening than simply putting strips on your teeth. Consulting with the dentist will allow us to determine if there are other areas of your oral health that should be dealt with prior to whitening. This includes ensuring that you do not have any cavities or infections, which could be further worsened by using a whitening product without fixing them. We can also advise you on the best products to use within your budget and provide helpful tips to protect the soft tissue and gums from irritation. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, give us a call.

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