In-Office or At-Home Teeth Whitening? What The Salem Dentists Recommend?!
Nowadays people more and more want to be as Hollywood stars with their perfect smiles. Who doesn’t?
Beautiful smile makes people feel more confident and attractive. There are several different ways to make your smile looks better, from veneers to at-home/in-office whitening teeth. As veneers may cost a lot and can be not the best choice for everyone, there are other options as at-home (do-it-yourself) whitening or professional (in-office) teeth whitening.
Teeth whitening is a minimally invasive and relatively low-cost procedure, making it one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatments.
The decision to try whitening is easy, but choosing a product that meets your needs is not. There’s an array of over-the-counter whitening tools you can buy in your local drugstore, but there is good question: are they effective?
If you’re truly thinking about whitening, you might consider to have a professional whitening at a dental office. It could cost more and you would need to squeeze in your schedule a trip to the dentist but it is worth a try.
Luckily, we can answer for upcoming questions: why you should consider professional whitening, what is the difference between” in-office” and “at-home” procedure or what should you do to prevent tooth stains before they happen?
What Is At-Home Whitening?
There are a lot of different products that you can buy at “over the corner” stores. It varies from whitening rinses to whitening toothpaste or gel strips and whitening trays.
One of the most effective treatments are gel strips or whitening trays. With gel strips, you need to place a thin strip over your teeth once a day and leave it on for 30 to 45 minutes (read interaction). This method could take around 10 to 20 days to see results. Whitening trays has similar effect. You need to fill trays with a whitening gel and wear them on your teeth. But be AWARE, without a dentist’s recommendation, you might over-use the whiteners or use them incorrectly, they can harm your tooth enamel and irritate the gum tissue. Also keep in mind that over-bleaching can produce an undesirable bluish hue, chalky whiteness or uneven results ( known as “the technicolor effect”).
By a Dentist’s supervision you can prevent these problems. To ensure the health of your smile, see your dentist before choosing at-home teeth whitening. Our dentists at Aleris Salem Dental Center know a lot about these products and can help you choose the right one and use it correctly.
Overall, at-home whitening treatments has lower cost, but it will take weeks or even months to work.
What Is Professional Teeth Whitening?
Professional teeth whitening is when your dentist is creating a custom-fitted whitening tray that fits your mouth firm and tight. This is especially important if you have some teeth that aren’t perfectly aligned. Dentist fills this tray with a high-potency whitening solution and have you wear it under a light or heat source to speed up the bleaching process. The biggest advantages to staying in the dentist’s chair are the obvious constant consultations and immediate notice if something goes wrong or isn’t working.
It could take few visits to get the desired results, but overall, professional whitening delivers optimum results over a relatively short amount of time.
Prevent Tooth Stains Before They Happen
As you age your teeth become naturally yellow, but there are always some things you can do to prevent stains on your teeth.
You should consider to
• Limit staining foods and beverages.
Coffee, red wine, soda and dark berries are most famous for staining teeth. Although it doesn't mean you have to avoid them completely, but definitely you should limit the amount of drinking or eating these substances. If possible, avoid the direct contact with your teeth, it is better to drink beverages known to stain teeth out of a straw to prevent it. In addition, brush your teeth after consuming one of these foods or beverages to reduce their effects on the color of your teeth. Moreover, one of the causes of tooth discoloration is smoking and chewing tobacco. One more good reason to quit smoking.
Limit sugar in your diet.
All we know that sugar is a cause of cavities, but also if you want whiter teeth, cut back on your sugar intake. A diet high in sugar supports the growth of bacteria that causes plaque and gingivitis. When you eat a sugary food, brush your teeth soon after you eat.
Get plenty of calcium in your diet
Some tooth discoloration is caused by enamel eroding away and exposing the dentin underneath, which is yellow in color. Calcium-rich foods, such as milk, cheese and broccoli, may help you to protect your teeth from enamel erosion.
After all, it is your decision of which form of whitening is best for your needs. However, if you need more help choosing between those two or want to learn more about your options, call us TODAY at 855-745-0055 to schedule your consultation. We’ll be happy to provide an overview of our whitening services to make you smile the way you have always dreamed.
