There are many teeth whitening systems on the market. These include toothpastes, gels, rinses, strips, as well as products obtained from a dentist. Teeth whitening works best on people who have healthy teeth that have not been restored with fillings, veneers, and crowns.
Patients who have yellow tones in their teeth usually have the best results. However, not every cosmetic tooth whitening procedure will work well for everyone.
Whitening Toothpaste
To be fair, all toothpastes on the market are designed to remove some surface stains. This is because they are equipped with mild abrasives.
Whitening toothpaste has polishing agents or chemicals that are designed to provide a higher level of stain removal. Whitening toothpaste is designed to remove surface stains.
They do not contain bleach and so they are not effective on stains that are deeper in the tooth. Whitening toothpaste can make a person’s teeth about a shade lighter.
However, this is a far cry from the 3 to 8 shades lighter tooth whitening results a person receives when they visit a dentist.
Over-The-Counter Whitening Strips and Gels
These peroxide-based gels are applied to a person’s teeth with their toothbrush. Each gel will have its own set of instructions based on the amount of peroxide in the gel. Most patients will see results in just a few days, and the results can last for many months.
Whitening strips also use peroxide to whiten a person’s teeth. The strips themselves are all but invisible and are applied to a person’s teeth for two weeks and for thirty minutes at a time. It takes a couple of days before a person sees any effect, but the whitening effect will last for multiple months.
Whitening Rinses
Whitening rinses are a relative newcomer in the world of cosmetic dentistry. A person will use them in the same way that they use mouthwash to improve the quality of their breath or reduce plaque.
Like most other teeth whitening products, whitening rinses use hydrogen peroxide as well as other ingredients to achieve the desired results.
Most products promise results within twelve weeks, but the effects of the whitening rinse and the duration of the results are less than other whitening methods.
Tray-based Tooth Whiteners
A tray-based system can either be purchased over-the-counter or may be administered by a dentist or orthodontist. It involves placing a tray that is filled with a whitening solution over discolored teeth multiple hours every single day for up to twenty-eight days.
The duration of the treatment will vary based on the level of discoloration and the level of whitening a person is trying to attain.
In-Office Whitening
Visiting a cosmetic Boise dentist or one from your particular locale is the quickest way to get tooth whitening results.
With an office bleaching, the product is applied directly to the teeth. A dentist or orthodontist will use heat, a specialized light, or a laser to achieve dramatic results. Patients usually see results after one thirty-minute treatment.
Additional visits may be scheduled depending on the severity of the discoloration. However, patients will see drastic results immediately following their first visit. The downside is that in-office teeth whitening is the most expensive option.
Teeth whitening is among the most popular cosmetic dental procedure performed today. This is due in part to the fact that in modern society, people equate having white teeth with happiness, intelligence, and success.
On the other side of the coin, discolored teeth are equated with uncleanness, a lack of orderliness, poverty, and incompetence. Teeth whitening procedures allow a person to improve their appearance, improve the way they are viewed by others, and improve their self-confidence.