At Home Teeth Whitening

Dentists Nationwide

Although in-office dental whitening can provide you the most dramatic results quickly, at-home teeth whitening can both help you maintain your results and get even better results over the long-term. Whether you are considering at-home teeth whitening to complement your in-office whitening or as a stand-alone whitening treatment, here are some of the options available to you, along with a rundown of their strengths and weaknesses.

Whitening Mouth Wash

Whitening mouth wash is a simple way to whiten your teeth, but its effects are limited. Because you can use it daily, it can contribute daily to your tooth whitening, but because it is only exposed to your teeth for fractions of a second, it can only remove the most superficial of stains. In fact, it is best used as more of a preventive treatment. If you drink coffee, tea, or red wine on a daily basis, a whitening mouth wash can help wash away these superficial stains before they have a chance to set.

Whitening Toothpastes

Whitening toothpastes are an even better daily option for tooth whitening, with a caveat. Whitening toothpastes work in two ways. First, they utilize chemical whiteners as well as abrasive particles in the toothpaste to scrub away stains. Whitening toothpastes approved by the American Dental Association (ADA) have gentle abrasives and are generally considered safe for your enamel, but there are some more aggressive whitening toothpastes out there that may be too harsh and abrasive for your teeth. These can not only lead to increased sensitivity, but can actually be counterproductive. As your enamel thins, the yellowish dentin can begin to show through, making your teeth perpetually yellow.

Paint-On Treatments

This type of tooth whitening uses a whitening compound that is applied directly to your teeth. The advantage of this is that it reduces the likelihood of irritation to the gums and other soft tissue by spreading whitening compounds. The disadvantage is that the compounds may be washed away too quickly to provide the level of whitening you desire.

Trays and Strips

If you go to the drug store, you can find ready-made trays for tooth whitening. To use these trays, you put some of the provided whitening compound inside, then fit the trays over your teeth. The advantage of the trays is that they can hold the whitening compound against your teeth for improved whitening. The disadvantage is that these trays are mass-produced and may not fit your teeth, leading to tooth and gum irritation and uneven results.

Strips are soft and flexible material impregnated with whitening compounds. They attempt to overcome the fit issue by being soft and pliable, able to conform to your teeth to ensure even whitening. The weakness of strips is that they may not adhere to your teeth for as long as necessary to provide optimum whitening results. Although there have been many updates in the adhesive technology, this continues to be a problem. The results for whitening strips are better than for many at-home options, but still below dentist-provided solutions.

Custom Dental Trays

The best at-home whitening solution is custom-designed tray whitener provided by your dentist, either as an alternative to or as a complement to in-office whitening. Because these trays are designed to fit your teeth, they maximize your comfort and the evenness of results. You may also be provided with a stronger whitening solution. Over time, your teeth will achieve and maintain their maximum whiteness with customized dental trays.

To discuss your at-home tooth whitening options, please contact a local dentist today.