Do you want a whiter smile? Have you ever explored your options for teeth whitening? Did you know that teeth whitening has been done for thousands of years?
Yes. Some 4000 years ago, ancient Egyptians used wine vinegar and ground pumice stone to whiten their teeth by brushing the solution onto their teeth with a frayed stick! In the 17th century, barbers used metal files and acid (yikes!) to whiten people teeth. Needless to say, don’t try these methods at home!
Fortunately for us, there are some much better options available today.
Three Methods For a Whiter Smile
There are essentially three modern ways to go about whitening your teeth: over-the-counter products, at-home professional systems, and office-applied professional whitening. Most of these methods utilize a safe solution called carbamide peroxide, a chemical variant of hydrogen peridoxide. The solution can be applied to your teeth using different concentrations and techniques.
We do recommend you receive an evaluation and exam at Dental Care on Golf Links before having your teeth whitened, whether you decide to go with over-the-counter products, use at-home professional systems, or have our office apply a professional whitening treatment. Why? There can be underlying oral conditions (cavities, root canal issues, infections, tumors) that teeth whitening could mask. It is also important to have a dental evaluation prior to whitening because the process only whitens enamel, not white fillings or porcelain crowns and veneers.
Over-the-counter products
Have you been down the toothbrush/toothpaste aisle lately? There are so many options for your oral care, it’s hard to choose. Over-the-counter (OTC) products to whiten your teeth are available in the form of mouth rinses, toothpastes, tooth strips, and bite trays. Although these products are somewhat effective, they typically will not produce a dramatic change in the color of your teeth. Toothpastes typically work only by being more abrasive, which removes more surface stain. Strips and bite trays typically do contain a hydrogen peroxide-based gel, but typically at a lower and less effective concentration. They are also often a bit cumbersome to apply. Some OTC products contain phosphoric acid, which may whiten your teeth, but will also damage your enamel and make your teeth more prone to cavities!
In-Office Professional Whitening
During this process, your dental care professional will apply a high strength hydrogen peroxide-based solution directly onto your teeth, sometimes with the use of a special light. The gums and surrounding parts of your mouth will be protected by a barrier from this highly concentrated solution. This method typically takes 30-60 minutes and can be done in one or several applications. It gets quick results, but often requires home-whitening trays to achieve the desired results fully. Sometimes, this method can make your teeth more sensitive than other methods.
At-Home Professional Whitening
With this method, we create dental impressions from which we make custom vinyl trays that fit your teeth perfectly. These custom trays are then used to apply the whitening gel to your teeth in the comfort of your own home. The trays can be worn overnight to allow for maximum contact time with the whitening gel. Depending on what concentration and professional brand gel we use, you may also be able to wear the trays during the day, for a few hours.
The process typically takes about 7-10 applications to achieve a desirable result. This method enables you to keep your custom trays for many years and to revitalize the whiteness in your teeth every few months to help you maintain that whiter smile over time.
The dentists at Dental Care on Golf Links prefer the At-Home Professional Whitening method and would happy to schedule an appointment to discuss your whiter smile. Call 520-886-6054 to schedule your appointment.
Read more about the 4 Do’s of Preventive Dental Care
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