Teeth whitening options

There are different ways available to whiten your teeth. The main three options are, have your dentist do it professionally, known as chairside, buy a kit from your dentist and do it yourself at home, or use the over-the-counter products.

At the dentist

Doing it professionally is the fastest way. This involves whitening your teeth with a whitening agent or a gel that contains a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide. This gel can cause irritation to the gums, so a gum-like solution is painted on the gums to protect them. After the whitening gel is applied, a laser light is used to activate the chemical reaction and start the process. The gel is allowed to act for 15-20 minute intervals, the process generally taking about 1 hour. Sometimes several visits may be necessary to obtain maximum results. The cost is $ 400 to $ 600. Dental insurance generally does not cover this procedure, but a discount dental plan can help you receive a discounted price.

Take-home kits

Take-home kits, purchased from your dentists, contain trays that you apply the gel to and then place in your mouth for about 1 hour. The gel contains a lower concentration of hydrogen peroxide, so it can stay in the mouth longer, sometimes overnight. The cost can range from $ 100 to $ 400. Some of the advantages of this method are less expensive and you can do it on your own schedule.

On the counter

The cheapest way is to use over-the-counter products. These products do not contain the same concentration of hydrogen peroxide as take-home kits that you can buy from the dentist. Such products include: whitening strips, whitening toothpaste, and now the latest whitening product is a peroxide-containing mouthwash. The cost of some of these products can range from $ 20 to $ 100. There are dentists who say those methods are not effective, but there is some recent research showing that white strips can be just as effective as the in-office method.

Side effects

Sensitivity to cold and heat is one of the side effects of teeth whitening, this is due to the higher concentration of peroxide found in the gel used by the dentist. The other is gum irritation, usually caused by the home or over-the-counter method, where you must use trays that do not provide gum protection.

Results

Note that there is no method to whiten some dental work, such as porcelain veneers, crowns, or adhesives. If you have a whitening procedure, you may have two shades of white, or you may need to replace some of the dental work. Discuss this with your dentist before proceeding with any method you choose.