Teeth Whitening Options: Teeth Whitening Strips, Gels, Toothpaste, Bleaching, and More
Teeth whitening is one of the most common cosmetic dentistry treatments. Teeth whitening is a massive industry because most people look for teeth whitening options. If you look for teeth whitening options online, you’ll find lots of potential bleaching options and recommendations, such as dietary recommendations, teeth whitening toothpaste, and teeth whitening products. Some of those methods may work, and some of them are completely ineffective recommendations. The best way to brighten your smile with noticeable results is through in-office teeth whitening. Below, we review the most effective teeth whitening options, including teeth whitening strips, teeth whitening gel, teeth whitening toothpaste, teeth whitening trays, and in-office bleaching.
#1. Teeth Whitening Strips
Teeth whitening strips are over-the-counter strips made of flexible materials coated in bleaching substances, such as hydrogen or carbamide peroxide. They’re attached to your teeth using adhesives, and the peroxide is oxidized upon contacting your teeth, leading to a bleaching effect. Best teeth whitening strips break up the stains and bleach your teeth, making them appear brighter and whiter. Most teeth whitening strips come in packs of 28, which means you have to wear one stripper arch for 14 nights. Most people wear the strips for 30 minutes before sleeping, and the results are usually seen after the first week. However, teeth whitening strips produce mild results — your teeth may appear brighter by a shade or two. Furthermore, teeth whitening strips are ineffective against discoloration caused by antibiotics.
#2. Teeth Whitening Gel
Over-the-counter teeth whitening gel also makes your teeth appear brighter and whiter because they have bleaching ingredients. Most teeth whitening gel contain hydrogen peroxide, one of the most common bleaching agents used for teeth whitening. As such, Hydrogen Peroxide teeth whitening gel removes the stains from your teeth to brighten your smile, making them suitable for surface stains. You have to use the teeth whitening gel for extended periods to see the desired results. However, like teeth whitening strips, teeth whitening gel are also relatively inefficient because you see mild results after regular use. Furthermore, if you’re not regular with the teeth whitening gel, you may not see the desired results at all.
#3. Teeth Whitening Toothpaste
All toothpaste is supposed to remove surface stains from your teeth. However, teeth whitening toothpaste contains chemical agents that also break down the stains to brighten your smile. Teeth whitening toothpaste also contains hydrogen peroxide, one of the most common whitening agents. As such, the continued use of teeth whitening toothpaste can brighten your teeth by one shade. Most patients are unhappy with the results available with teeth whitening toothpaste. That’s because you have to use the teeth whitening toothpaste regularly for months before you see a barely noticeable improvement. It’s inadvisable for people with severe discoloration.
#4. Teeth Whitening Trays
teeth whitening trays are over-the-counter mouth guards or dentist-recommended mouthguards filled with whitening products. You have to apply the bleaching agent into the mouthguard-like tray and wear it several hours a day for at least four weeks to see mild improvements. Dentist-recommended teeth whitening trays are far more effective than over-the-counter trays because they’re designed according to your specific dental anatomy, so they reach all the corners of your teeth for even distribution. However, all whitening trays take several weeks to show results, and those results aren’t significant enough to satisfy most patients.
#5. In-Office Bleaching
In-office bleaching or laser whitening is the most effective means of brightening your teeth. In-office teeth whitening brightens your smile by up to eight shades in a single session, so you can leave the dental clinic with a noticeably brighter smile. The in-office laser teeth whitening procedure is extremely simple. The dentist applies the whitening products to your teeth and uses a laser device to catalyze the peroxide, making it remove all the stains from your teeth. The entire procedure concludes within an hour with short intervals in between, following which you can resume your daily activities.
What is the Teeth Whitening Dentist Cost?
The cost of teeth whitening at a dentist depends on the method used and the level of discoloration. Each patient is unique, and everyone’s dental whitening treatment follows a unique plan. As such, you should consult your 24 Hour dentist near me to discuss your teeth whitening cost.
Dental Whitening FAQs
How to whiten your teeth permanently?
Most teeth whitening procedures offer temporary results that last for a few months or years, depending on your dietary habits and lifestyle habits. You can extend the results by reducing your consumption of tea, coffee, wine, and other beverages that stain your teeth. However, if you want permanently white teeth, you can get dental veneers attached to your existing teeth. Veneers are stain-resistant, so they remain white at all times.
How much can I whiten my teeth, and how long does it last?
You can brighten your teeth by up to eight shades with in-office bleaching or laser teeth whitening. The results from laser teeth whitening last for several months or years, depending on the technique and your lifestyle.
How well does teeth whitening done by the dentist work?
Teeth whitening at a dentist’s office is the most effective means of brightening your smile. In-office laser teeth whitening procedures brighten your teeth by up to eight shades, producing dramatic results.
Schedule Your Teeth Whitening Treatment
URBN Dental is one of the most reliable dental clinics for teeth whitening and cosmetic dentistry in Houston. Our cosmetic dentists carefully assess your teeth and determine the root cause of your discoloration to recommend the ideal teeth whitening plan. Please schedule an appointment to discuss your teeth whitening treatment options.