What are the Best Teeth Whitening Methods?

Given the many years of contact with acidic and staining agents, it can be challenging to maintain a bright smile. Unfortunately, teeth stains or discoloration can make you look less attractive and unhealthy. Tooth stains also make you feel less confident about yourself, which can affect your social life, career, and overall quality of life.

Thanks to modern innovations in cosmetic dentistry, you have several options to enhance your smile. Teeth whitening is perhaps the most budget-friendly, popular, and less invasive procedure to whiten your smile. Since tooth stains vary based on factors like the severity and causes, you should whiten your smile with the help of your dentist. Contact Yelena Popkova, DDS – Merrimack, for teeth whitening treatment.

Teeth Whitening Options

There are several teeth whitening methods you can choose to brighten your smile, including:

• • In-Office Teeth Whitening

In-office teeth whitening is the most popular, effective, quickest, safest, and most durable option to show your smile. The treatment takes about one hour, and the dentist provides it in the office. The dentist begins by preforming an exam to check for cavities, existing fillings, crowns and root canal treated teeth as they will not bleach. A cleaning and polishing of your teeth with then take place to remove plaque and tartar. Next, the dentist will use a shade chart to determine the current shade of your teeth and how many shades lighter your teeth should be whitened.

• • Dentist’s take-home trays and gel

If you can’t go for the in-office whitening, you can consider customized at-home whitening trays and gel from your dentist. The tray and gel should be worn over the teeth for a specific period daily for a few weeks. The whitening gel is easy to use, no sensitivities and provides the longest lasting results.

Based on the strength of the whitening gel, patient compliance to instructions, and the severity of the stains, it can take a few days to weeks to see results. Since the whitening trays and gel are customized, you’ll receive better results, and you’ll be less likely to experience side effects like tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.

• • OTC Whitening Trays and Gel

Over-the-counter trays and gels are generic. The tray might not fit well, which can cause the gel to come in contact with the gums, causing irritation and sensitivity. Similarly, some whitening gels contain less concentration of the bleaching agents, meaning that it can take longer to yield results. In fact, there’s no guarantee that OTC whitening gels will whiten your smile ever. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions about how you should use the treatment.

• • Whitening Toothpaste

Whitening toothpaste helps remove surface stains from coffee, soda, tea, and other lifestyle habits. While they contain additional chemicals that make teeth brighter, they aren’t effective for moderate to severe teeth stains. Whitening toothpaste should be used once or twice daily, and it might take weeks to see results. Remember that these toothpastes contain abrasive ingredients that can erode the tooth’s enamel over time.

• • Whitening Strips

Whitening strips are readily available in a drug store near you. The strips contain a thin layer of peroxide-based gel and are applied onto the surface of the teeth for a specific time daily. Whitening strips are only effective for minor stains, and the results aren’t long-lasting.

• • Natural whiteners

Home-based products like baking soda, activated charcoal, hydrogen peroxide, and apple cider vinegar are popular remedies for whitening teeth. However, you should use them cautiously as their effectiveness and safety aren’t scientifically proven. They are only for occasional use. Regular applications of these products can erode the tooth’s enamel.

Final Verdict

While these treatments are effective, professional take-home trays and gels offer the safest, most effective, easiest, quickest, and long-lasting results. Contact our dentist for more information about Teeth Whitening in Merrimack, NH.