Is Home Tooth Whitening Right For You? (a comparison of Home Tooth Whitening and Dentist Whitening)
August 13th, 2010
Tooth whitening is a common technique used to get rid of tooth stains. Dentists have been employing dental bleaching methods to produce superior results that can help individuals in getting sparkling white teeth. More recently, several tooth whitening products have become available over the counter that can also yield similar results as dental bleaching.
A lot has been said over the years about both dentist whitening and home tooth whitening techniques. A detailed understanding of both these techniques will help you make the right decision.
Dentist Whitening
In this method, the dentist fits a tray which is custom-made to fit around your teeth perfectly. The dentist then applies a whitening gel around the tray that will be placed inside your mouth. Carbamide peroxide, the material whitening gel is composed of, breaks down into oxygen. The oxygen then reacts with the teeth enamel and causes the teeth to fade in color. The success of this procedure is depends upon the mouth tray designed to fit your mouth.
Laser tooth whitening is a newer dental treatment option. In this method, the dentist directs a laser beam at the hydrogen peroxide solution to activate the reaction. Both these methods are more expensive when compared to home tooth whitening methods.
Home Tooth Whitening
Home tooth whitening can be easily done with the help of over-the-counter products. Some of the products that can be used are as follows:
• Bleaching trays
• Whitening gels
• Whitening toothpastes
• Tooth whitening strips
If you cannot afford professional dental whitening treatments, then home tooth whitening may be an option for you. However, over-the-counter drugs may not be as effective as the bleaching kits used in the dentist’s office. Moreover, you must ensure that you get well-fitting trays that fit your mouth appropriately. Regular dental care is also required for sustaining the results of home tooth whitening methods.
As always, patients should consider the pros and cons of each the method before making at a decision.
