Deciding on the Best Teeth Whitening System for You

Recently, more and more Americans are becoming obsessed in having a whiter set of teeth. Because of this, systems to make teeth whiter and look good becoming increasingly popular. This spurred hundreds of different bleaching formulas and products in the market and also different advertisements for dental offices offering professional services for this procedure.

If you are one of these Americans and with all of these products and systems, you might ask: What then is the best whitening system for me?

There are 2 broad categories of teeth bleaching systems. The first one would be at-home teeth bleaching wherein individuals can do the beaching process without dental supervision. And, the second one would be a professional tooth whitening treatment done by a dentist in his office.

Generally, both system works on the premise of using an active ingredient, which is peroxide based, on the teeth. The concentrated amount of the peroxide in the bleaching agent and the amount of time this stays on the surface of the teeth determines the whitening result.

Some teeth whitening systems already give good results in as little as an hour, overnight or within a period of 3 to 4 days but complete results can be seen at least in a weak or several months depending on factors such as the innate capability of the teeth to be whitened and on the type of stain the tooth has.

Two methods are used in professional teeth whitening procedures. This is either laser or power bleaching. In the laser process, the dentist first isolates teeth by coating the lips and the gums with protective formula. After which, the bleaching solution system is applied on the teeth. With the use of laser, the oxygen molecules are released from the whitening gel. This bleaching system for teeth will work effectively if it is done for at least 45 minutes. But the process usually lasts between 1-2 hours.

Home bleaching, on the other hand, is performed at home under the indirect supervision of a dentist. At the first appointment, the dentist takes impressions of the patient's teeth and then creates a perfectly fitted mouthpiece. This mouthpiece will allow the patient to apply a bleaching solution to the teeth while protecting the rest of the mouth from contact with the bleaching chemicals.

Usually solutions that have carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide are used in home-based gels. The strength of the formula used for these products is not as strong as the bleaching agent used in laser whitening and power bleaching procedures but can work as well over a longer period of use.

In addition to these effective systems for bleaching teeth, there are other products available in drugstores and supermarkets that claim to whiten teeth. Some dentists do not recommend these bleaching systems because some are proven to be ineffective and these could damage the tooth's enamel and the gum tissue. They may be popular but it is important that the product is backed by tests and approved by a dental regulating body and your dentist for use.

So, what then is the best system to whiten your teeth? Before we answer this question, let us look first at the different advantages and disadvantages of the 2 systems.

Take home teeth bleaching systems are usually cheaper than professional bleaching systems and prices may range from $100 to $500 while professional bleaching can cost from $500 to $2000. But these cheaper bleaching systems have the following limitations:

On the other hand, here are some advantages of getting a professional teeth whitening system from your dentist:

The only disadvantage of this system is that, is more expensive and costlier than home-based procedures.

Both methods actually work well but your lifestyle and your financial state will help you decide which teeth whitening system will work best for you.

If you have a very busy lifestyle and you don't think you can integrate a few hours of at-home treatments for your teeth, then going for professional teeth bleaching systems done by your dentist would be good for you. But, if you are a bit short on money and have some spare time and patience to bleach at home then, home-based system for teeth whitening is the right answer for you.

Sitemap:

Home

Articles