The good news is that professional teeth whitening is suitable for most people with permanent teeth and good oral health. If you don't experience gum tenderness or gum retraction, you may be less sensitive to chemicals in whitening procedures. In addition, it works well for people with persistent, yellowish spots, but it doesn't always whiten brown and greyish spots. Whitening treatments are a great option for people who haven't had any previous treatment on their front teeth; tooth-colored fillings, crowns and caps can't be whitened like other teeth.
You can always check with your dentist to find out if you're a good candidate and to get more teeth whitening options available to you. Many over-the-counter whitening products aren't as effective because their chemistry is too weak and they can't whiten your teeth for long enough, or because they're too strong and dangerous to use and ingest. Professional teeth whiteners are safe, effective, and performed under the supervision of a dental professional. In most cases, it's worth the extra cost of visiting the dentist for safe, long-lasting results.
Nicotine stains, for example, can take up to three months to bleach regardless of the percentage of peroxide. As for whitening toothpastes and rinses, they don't do much good, and any toothpaste option will do essentially the same thing. However, for the most sensitive teeth, your dentist may recommend a personalized whitening tray to use in the comfort of your home. Remember that the result of your teeth whitening will be approximately the same if you do it at home with personalized teeth whitening trays or if you do it in the office by a dental professional.
Building a chair is more dangerous than buying one; cooking over an open fire is more complicated than ordering takeout; and, logically, whitening your teeth at home isn't as safe as doing it professionally. In addition, there are an increasing number of questionable whitening products on the market today, especially those available on the Internet. Walk down the toothpaste aisle of a typical pharmacy and you'll see a range of products that promise to whiten your teeth. If you want your smile to have that “pearly white effect,” you may want to sink your teeth into these teeth whitening products.
All of these whitening methods contain a variety of peroxide compounds, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). The only way to have noticeably whiter teeth in a single day is with professional in-office teeth whitening treatments. The biggest benefits of staying in the dentist's chair are obvious constant visits and immediate notification if something goes wrong or isn't working. While three visits to the dentist are frequent over a period of four to six weeks, the results won't last forever, but a dentist can teach you more about your teeth by performing the procedure first and prescribing a solution with a percentage of peroxide that is specifically tailored to your teeth.
Over-the-counter bleaching strips, for example, use only a small amount of peroxide, approximately six percent.
