Teeth whitening is a common practice that many people choose to do to get brighter, whiter smiles. There are several methods of achieving whiter teeth, some of which can be done on your own. However, there are a few things to note before even considering the procedure. Whitening your teeth may not work with all types of enamel. If you have veneers or caps or other dental apparatus in your mouth, the process won't work on those elements either. Staining and discolouration that result from certain habits are harder to clean. Most people who decide to undergo teeth whitening procedures have a series of options to look at.
Whitening Toothpaste
Several toothpaste manufacturers have special toothpaste that claims to make teeth more white and shine more brightly. They range in the depth to which they can impact teeth, with some of them dealing with surface whitening and others delving deeper into the tooth as they clean. You should consult your dentist before you start using these kinds of toothpaste since they may contain chemicals that are harmful to your teeth. Others rely on abrasive micro-particles, which may wear away at your enamel and make it more brittle and easier to break.
At-Home Teeth Whitening Kits
Whitening your teeth isn't limited to toothpaste, however. Many pharmacies sell at-home teeth whitening kits that incorporate chemicals that can help leach stains out of your enamel. Their applications also range from strips to brushes to rinses. Almost all of them contain peroxide and takes time to act on your teeth. Dentists can provide custom-fitted trays to help with these at-home procedures.
Professional Dental Teeth Whitening
The dentist can also provide teeth whitening services, but the chemicals used are far more potent than any at-home options. These chemicals also contain significant amounts of peroxide, but their administration is done by someone who's trained to use these chemicals. These solutions' strengths can typically offer a much deeper and significant whitening than a non-professional, over-the-counter solution.
The in-office version takes about an hour, up to two hours at most. At-home kits tend to require consistent application over weeks before you notice any change in the whiteness of your teeth. This procedure, when done by a dentist also takes a lot longer to fade than OTC solutions or toothpaste. Professional whitening does cost a lot more than an at-home kit or special cosmetic products, but you usually get what you pay for.