Improving your smile is often good for you.
Improving your smile is often good for you. You may know the value of routine dental cleanings to keep plaque and bacteria at bay. For many people, teeth whitening is also important. It could give you the extra confidence you need to smile more often or help you feel more comfortable meeting new people. Teeth whitening is a good thing, but should you get it from an at-home product or a professional service?
A Dentist Can Offer a Better Result
At-home and over-the-counter teeth whitening products are numerous, and many are very different from each other. Some may produce results, but they may also damage your teeth in the process. If you want white teeth, it is often beneficial to turn to a dentist for help. Here’s why.
Stronger Solutions
The products that dentists can use are stronger. That means they are able to use more effective types of teeth whitening products to remove more of the stains. These products are not available as over-the-counter treatments because they must be used by a professional. For example, many of the at-home solutions available contain 3 to 20% hydrogen peroxide to do the cleaning. By comparison, your dentists’ products can include 15 to 43% – a big difference when used properly. If you’ve used at-home products without a lot of improvement, you may benefit from turning to a dentist for teeth whitening.
Faster, More Natural Results
When you use a dentist for teeth whitening, you can also expect improved overall results. Most of these products can improve the coloring of your teeth substantially, up to 3 to 8 shades better. That could mean that you have a whiter smile, but it also means your smile looks more natural and not super white or bleached. Additionally, the dentist’s procedure typically takes 30 minutes to up to an hour. You may need more than one visit, but you don’t need treatment every day or all night long like some at-home products.
Protecting Your Dental Health
Another benefit to using a professional for teeth whitening is that you’ll know your teeth are healthy enough for the procedure. If you use at-home products and have cavities or even a crack in your tooth, these types of products can worsen those conditions and cause lasting damage. A dentist will ensure your teeth are healthy enough for whitening
Avoid Problems
Dentists can also help you to avoid some of the most common problems associated with teeth whitening products. That includes:
- Damage to the gums
- Using chemicals that are ineffective
- Overusing chemicals that often soften the enamel
- Overwhitening to where the teeth no longer look natural
- Causing additional staining to the surface of the tooth due to uneven use of the product
When it comes to improving your smile, teeth whitening is an important investment. Yet, you may get more out of your investment and a better result if you turn to a professional like your dentist for treatment.