Best Natural Teeth Whitening At Home- What Should I Know?
It seems as though today everyone is talking about teeth whitening. From simple kits designed for home use to dental office visits, there are many options for keeping that white smile. Which of these options is best for you can vary based on several factors. Firstly, how dark have your teeth become? How old are you? How much are you able to budget for whitening?
Tiny cracks appear in the tooth enamel and it is in these cracks that stains sit. As time goes on, the stains get deeper and harder to remove. Additionally, one thing to know is that underneath the enamel, the tooth color is a brownish-yellow. As enamel wears away, the natural color from underneath is exposed. Thus, older teeth are more difficult to treat. A teenager or young adult will respond more quickly and effectively to a whitening process. This is because there is less natural yellow exposed and because the build-up of stains is less. If you have been noticing yellowing teeth for many years, a more potent process may be required.
There are many over-the-counter options you may want to try. These usually come as a kit with a bleaching gel with is applied via strips or trays or with a paint-on applicator. Often, these methods will only whiten the front teeth, which may be all you really need. Results may take up to eight weeks.
Then there are whitening kits which are given my dental professionals. These use a lower concentration or peroxide which can be left on the teeth longer, often overnight. They are applied with custom made bleaching trays that fit in your mouth like a mouth guard.
After that, we have the office visits. Of course this is done by a dentist or trained dental technician. This procedure uses a higher concentration of peroxide that is left on the teeth for 15-20 minutes at a time. Depending on the age and penetration of the stains, this may require additional visits or a combined effort with home kits.
This is where budget comes into play. Over-the-counter teeth whitening will generally cost $20-$50. But remember, this is usually for one treatment. Depending on the severity of your discoloration, you may need to purchase several of these kits to see results. Whitening kits that are given by your dentist range from $100-$300. While this is a bigger investment, it may serve you better if you're concerned that your teeth have become very darkened. The office visits average about $600 per visit. This is an even bigger investment, but on the other hand, the results can hold up for up to a year. It is best to determine the severity of your teeth whitening needs, and compare not only the cost per use, but also the long term benefits and the requirements for additional treatments. For best results, always check with your dentist.
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