It is your goal to have a white, bright smile. But what is the teeth whitening option that will be most suitable for you? Here, our Sydney River dentists explain teeth whitening options and the effects they can have.
What is teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure designed to lighten the colour of your smile using a peroxide-based bleaching agent. As the active ingredient in the bleaching agent breaks down, the oxygen it contains acts on the enamel of your teeth, creating a whitening effect.
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
The most effective teeth whitening procedures are performed by your dentist in a dental office. This is because the whitening agents in your dentist’s gel are much stronger and produce much more effective results than over-the-counter products.
This procedure usually takes about an hour. Your dentist will use a concentrated whitening solution in order to remove surface stains from your teeth and to lighten their colour. The result will be a bit more efficient than at-home solutions, which may take from days to weeks of treatments 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 will take the whitening trays home and manage the application yourself. You will wear the whitening gel for half an hour to one hour each day for between 1 and 3 weeks, depending on what is prescribed by your dentist.
The whitening solution will gradually remove surface stains from your teeth and lighten their natural colour.
Toothpastes
Whitening toothpastes work to remove surface stains and slightly whiten your teeth. However, keep in mind that whitening toothpastes will not affect the natural colour of your teeth, and they will be unable to lighten stains that have penetrated below the tooth’s surface.
Enamel-strengthening toothpastes can help to protect your teeth from cavities as well as protect your enamel from damage, preventing 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 generally apply whitening strips each day for between 2 and 3 weeks, keeping them on for no longer than 30 minutes at one time. Since these products contain only small amounts of peroxide, you will 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?
The best tooth whitening treatment option for you will depend on a number of factors, including personal preference and the time you have in your schedule 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 to learn more.