subject: Why Your Dentist Should Whiten Your Teeth [print this page] Why Your Dentist Should Whiten Your Teeth
A bright, attractive smile is your best interface with those around you. But if your teeth are not as white as they could be, or if you have stained or discolored teeth that mar your appearance, you may be considering having your teeth whitened. Professional, in-office teeth whitening is the quickest and easiest way to get the bright, healthy smile that presents an attractive, confident you to the world.
At-home Whitening
There are many over the counter products on the market for at-home teeth whitening, using a bleaching agent like peroxide. But at-home kits can be messy and time-consuming. They can take weeks to work, and often they don't whiten the backs of teeth, the areas nearest the gumline, or spaces between teeth. Some can irritate the gums. Here are some drawbacks of at-home whitening products.
Whitening rinses
Swish for 60 seconds twice daily
Take up to 12 weeks to see results
Short contact time makes them less effective than other methods
Whitening gels
Apply with small brush to teeth twice daily; leave in place 30 minutes
Initial results seen in 14 days, final results in about 4 months
Whiten only those parts of teeth that gel reaches
May not whiten backs of teeth, chewing surfaces, etc.
Whitening strips
Adhere to front of teeth twice daily, for 30 minutes
Initial results seen in 14 days, final results in about 4 months
Only whiten the front of teeth
Results will be uneven if teeth are crooked
Tray-based kits
Fill tray with solution or gel; wear for up to 2 hours daily or at night
Final results in 4 weeks or longer
Reach more tooth surfaces, but results may be uneven due to poor tray fit
May irritate gums if solution seeps out
Advantages of Professional Teeth Whitening
In contrast to the at-home systems described above, professional teeth whitening by a dentist can give you fast, consistent, and convenient results. Professional systems offer better or more concentrated bleaching agents, to whiten teeth faster. Your dentist will take special measures to protect your sensitive gums, using a gel or rubber shield to prevent irritation. In-office products are often used in combination with heat, light, or a laser to more strongly activate the bleaching agent. For example, the Zoom! Advanced Power System uses a blue light to activate a proprietary bleaching gel. With the Zoom! system, many people see a dramatic difference after a single treatment.
After-care
Though even professional whitening is not permanent, your dentist can explain how your bright new smile can stay whiter even longer, by scheduling additional follow-up visits, or through the use of take-home whitening trays that are custom-made to fit your teeth.
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