Teeth whitening is the most commonly requested cosmetic dentistry treatment. It is one of the easiest ways to improve your smile and your confidence. But what is the best way to whiten your teeth, professional whitening treatments or over the counter whitening products? Here’s what you should know.
What is Professional Teeth Whitening?
Professional teeth whitening treatments are provided by dentists and other dental specialists. They contain prescription strength ingredients that should only be used with your dentist’s approval. Professional teeth whitening treatments can be applied by your dentist in a single in-office treatment or in a take-home format that you can apply yourself on a daily basis for up to 2 weeks.
What Teeth Whitening Products Are Available In Stores?
There are a variety of teeth whitening products available in grocery stores, pharmacies, and even online. Whitening toothpaste, mouthwash, strips, wands, and more are designed for self application and do not require the approval of a dentist.
The Most Effective Teeth Whitening Treatment
What type of teeth whitening treatment is most effective? Without question, professional in-office teeth whitening provides the most dramatic results in the least amount of treatments, making it the most effective and efficient option for whitening your teeth.
Whitening products you can purchase over the counter may provide some degree of whitening, but the results are not as visible as with professional treatment. You may whiten your teeth a few shades, but you most likely won’t get the results you were hoping for. And you have to keep buying more and more of the product to maintain your results.
In-Office vs At-Home Professional Teeth Whitening
When it comes to comparing in-office vs at-home professional teeth whitening treatments, there are certain benefits of each.
- In-Office Teeth Whitening. Teeth whitening treatment applied by your dentist in the dental office provides the brightest shade of white you can expect to achieve. A special light is used to activate the whitening agent and accelerate your results. It only requires a single treatment, and the results may last anywhere from 1-3 years. In-office whitening typically comes at a higher cost than at-home professional whitening.
- At-Home Teeth Whitening. Whitening kits you can take home are still professional strength, but it takes longer to achieve the desired results. At-home whitening treatments are applied with a tray that fits over your teeth. You may notice an improvement after a few days, but it typically takes up to 2 weeks to achieve the full results. Results may last anywhere from 9-12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teeth Whitening
What’s the fastest way to whiten teeth?
The fastest way to whiten your smile is to have in-office teeth whitening treatment. This provides dramatic, noticeable results in a single treatment.
Is teeth whitening safe?
Teeth whitening treatments are safe for tooth enamel in most cases. To be sure, professional whitening treatments are only applied or prescribed by your dentist.
Are You a Candidate for Professional Teeth Whitening Treatment?
To be a candidate for professional teeth whitening, the first requirement is that you have healthy teeth. If you need any restorative procedures such as fillings or root canals, these procedures will need to be taken care of before any cosmetic treatments. It is also important to note that teeth whitening treatments are not effective at removing certain types of stains and will not whiten dental prosthetics.
Call MD Smiles today at 410-531-2690 or contact us to learn more and schedule an appointment.