Your goal is to have a bright, white smile. But which teeth whitening option is best for you? Our Ottawa dentists explain the different teeth whitening options and their effects.
What is teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure that uses peroxide-based bleaching agents to lighten the colour of your teeth. The whitening effect is caused by oxygen acting on the tooth enamel as the active ingredient breaks down.
What are my options for teeth whitening?
You can whiten your teeth in a variety of ways nowadays. It can be difficult to pick the best one, as each has its own set of benefits and can produce positive results. Each procedure, like any other, has its own set of drawbacks.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
The, usually, most effective teeth whitening procedures are done in a dental office by your dentist. This is because the whitening agents in your dentist's gel should be far more powerful and effective than those found in over-the-counter products.
It usually takes about an hour to complete the procedure. To remove surface stains from your teeth and lighten their natural colour, your dentist will use a concentrated whitening solution. This should produce slightly faster results than at-home whitening solutions, which can take days or weeks to work.
At-Home Professional Teeth Whitening Trays
This take-home option would be supervised by your dentist. During an initial visit to your dentist, a dental impression will be created to make your whitening trays.
You'll take the whitening trays home with you and handle the teeth whitening procedure on your own. Depending on what your dentist recommends, you'll wear the whitening gel for 30 minutes to a few hours per day for 1 to 3 weeks.
The whitening solution should gradually remove surface stains from your teeth and lighten their natural colour.
Toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste can remove surface stains and whiten your teeth slightly. Keep in mind, however, that whitening toothpaste will not change the natural colour of your teeth and will not be able to remove stains that have penetrated beneath the tooth's surface.
Enamel strengthening toothpaste can help to defend your teeth from cavities and protect your enamel from further damage, which can prevent stains from developing in the first place.
Whitening Strips
These small plastic strips are coated with peroxide-based gel. When you apply the strip to your teeth, the peroxide coating should remove surface stains, lightening the colour of your teeth.
You should use whitening strips once a day for two to three weeks, and only leave them on for 30 minutes at a time. Because these products only contain a small amount of peroxide, the effects are usually subtle.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are razor-thin strips of porcelain that are affixed to the fronts of your teeth to improve their colour, shape and symmetry.
If only one or a few of your teeth are discoloured, porcelain veneers may be a practical solution to even out the colour of your teeth.
How do I know which are the best teeth whitening products?
The best teeth whitening products for you will be determined by a variety of factors, including personal preference, time constraints, and financial constraints. You might want to look up teeth whitening reviews online to get tips and ideas from other people who have gone through the professional and/or at-home whitening process.