Are you thinking of getting your teeth whitened? Are you torn between over-the-counter teeth whitening kits and seeing a professional? It turns out you’re not alone.
Every day, thousands of people think about this. After all, pearly white teeth are beautiful, attractive and give you a great smile. However, just because the stores seem awash with teeth whitening kits doesn’t mean that they are the best options for you.
In this article, we will be examining the different teeth whitening methods and outlining their pros and cons to help you better decide the next step for a whiter smile.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Dentists typically use industrial grade bleaching agents that are both healthy and harmless when whitening your teeth. And, unlike the standard over the counter options, they understand that every patient is different.
Some patients have sensitive teeth, some have dental fillings, while others may have implants or the like. Your dentist will take your dental history into account when making a decision and pursuing treatment, and follow up with you to ensure the continued health of your teeth. They will also work with you to determine the root cause of the discoloration and give you options to treat that, as well.
They also use recommended bleaching agents which are fast acting and capable of producing the results anyone needs in 1-2 sessions. This means that if you’re looking for “overnight” pearly whites, having your teeth professionally whitened is your best bet as they will be done well and without any side effects, and accomplished much more quickly to boot.
However, because of the equipment and products involved, this also means the quickest and safest route is also the most expensive.
Whitening Kits
Hardly a day goes by when there isn’t an ad for a do-it-yourself teeth whitening kit. These are appealing because of their convenience -- you can do them in the privacy of your home -- and lower price points. People with dental anxiety also tend to prefer these as it means they wouldn’t have to go to the dentist to get their teeth whitened.
The downside is that there are so many products, and not all of them are as effective as they claim. Over-the-counter whitening kits are usually in the form of strips and whitening trays, which don't have the same reach your dentist. Also, they don’t work instantly -- and if it claims to, I would say that your best case scenario would be a kit that does nothing. Depending on the chemicals involved, you could end up damaging your teeth. If you have crooked or damaged teeth, or even a mild case of sensitivity, you may not find an over-the-counter solution at all.
So what’s the verdict? If this is your first teeth whitening procedure, we would strongly suggest that you get professionally done. Then, ask your dentist for over the counter options that you can use to maintain your pearly whites. A good dentist like Dr. Johnson in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida will always be happy to recommend what they feel would work best for your situation.