Let’s face it: everyone wants whiter teeth. If you’re one of the few people that has naturally bright teeth without having to consider whitening products – congratulations! If you’re not – there’s good news – modern teeth whitening has come a long, long way. The problem typically doesn’t arise from whether or not to whiten your teeth; it’s what type of product to choose.
Two Options For Teeth Whitening
Do you want professional or over-the-counter do it yourself whitening? Both use ingredients that are capable of taking stain off of the teeth, but how do the two approaches differ? If you’re considering investing in a whiter smile, then there are some important things that we want our Smile by Design patients to understand before they make their choice.
Over-The-Counter Kits Are ‘One Size Fits Most’
Although these whitening kits are convenient and easy to buy, it’s important to remember they’ve been designed to accommodate ‘most’ mouths and they use a much lower grade of whitening ingredient.
Because of their design, the whitening gel is usually not applied evenly across all of the teeth, but only the teeth it happens to get contact if you’re able to keep the solution as flush as possible. As a result, many people get uneven whitening along the tooth surface. You’ll also need to wear a home treatment longer and use it more often, because it takes more time for the weaker whitening solutions to take effect. Even then, the results will be limited.
Something else to look out for is accidentally getting the product in contact with your gums, as this can cause burns and even bleaching of your gum tissue. Ultimately, over-the-counter whitening products are best for people that have mild whitening needs as long as they do not have existing tooth decay or gum disease.
Professional In-Chair Teeth Whitening Is Fast And High-Strength
The fastest, most effective way to whiten your teeth is through a professional in-office whitening treatment. At Smile by Design, we offer one-hour in-office whitening to our patients. It works and gives the expected results. Professional teeth whitening is perfect if you have a special occasion coming up and want to look great, feel confident and make a lasting impression.
The professional-grade whitening gel is applied to your teeth and a special light is used to help speed the stain-busting process. This step is repeated one or two more times until the final results are achieved, letting you leave the office with teeth that are several shades lighter than they were when you arrived. It works so quickly by using a highly concentrated whitening formula that actually oxidises stain particles so they float away from the porous tooth enamel. It also whitens already healthy enamel by several shades.
Why Should Someone Consider Whitening?
Over time, our teeth absorb the stains from the food and drink that we consume. Some substances stain teeth more than others – such as coffee and tea. This can make our smiles appear older, or simply not as beautiful as they once were. Studies have suggested that people with whiter, more beautiful smiles are more likely to smile often and be seen as friendlier than people who do not. Those same studies even suggest that a whiter smile helps people when they’re applying for a job or promotion.
At Smile by Design, we know that offering in-office whitening to our patients is something that makes a dramatic, yet healthy change in the way their smile looks. If you can spare an hour for in-chair whitening treatment, you’ll leave with immediate results. Call us or book an appointment today.
