A Variety of Options for Whiter Teeth

By Nia Lawrence


It's best to consult your teeth whitening dentist before you use at-home whitening kits. These products have different formulations and methods of application, and you could injure your gums if you don't use whitening strips and trays as prescribed. If you really want to play it safe, then you should use customized dental trays instead. These are slightly more expensive because the trays will be prefabricated and fitted by a dental technician, but you'll obtain the best results (as far as whitening trays can provide). Dental trays are custom-fitted to your teeth's natural contours, and the bleaching gel comes in a formulation that whitens your teeth without causing sensitivity.

Whitening kits are always better than toothpaste or mouthwash, even those which have minimal amounts of bleaching agents. Besides, your teeth whitening dentist will likely prescribe oral hygiene products as initial or maintenance treatments. If you're not picky with your options, you can use whitening toothpaste and mouthwash for a couple of months and see if these will improve the shade of your teeth or lighten the staining. You'll have to lower your expectations because the improvement is so gradual that you'll hardly notice it (unless you use a teeth shade guide). Whitening toothpaste is effective against mild surface stains and discolorations.

Deep-set stains can be removed or lightened with higher bleaching gel concentrations. This applies to staining caused by a sedentary lifestyle or poor oral hygiene, medication, trauma, diet, or vices. Your teeth whitening dentist will prescribe dental trays if the discoloration requires regular and intensive exposures. Dental trays are more effective than OTC whitening kits because the latter comes with milder bleaching gels and the application trays have default fittings. The exposures wouldn't be effective if the trays aren't fitted to your teeth's contours. The bleaching gel's formulation is also higher in dental trays.

Dental trays come with prescriptions, and you'll be adding another step to your nightly routines. These are worn for up to two hours at a time, and the trays easily annoy patients who already consider brushing routines too troublesome. If you prefer drastic and immediate improvements, then you can opt for professional whitening procedures instead. This is conducted by a teeth whitening dentist within proper clinical setups, using highly concentrated bleaching gels. The treatment is potent enough to remove minor stains in fifteen minutes. You'll have to undergo several 15-minute exposures to obtain best results, though.

Tooth whitening can't remove some stains, though, so it's always best to consult your dentist before you try out whitening kits on your own. If the stain is so deep-set that professional whitening can't remove it, then your dentist may recommend other restorative procedures to cover up or replace the stained enamel. Veneers, crowns, and implants are the next best alternatives for stubborn teeth stains.




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