Teeth Whitening: Should You See a Professional?

A gorgeous set of pearly whites can make your smile pop. However, they can be hard to achieve naturally. Genetics, a smoking habit, and certain dietary choices can all affect the color of your teeth. Luckily, you’re not stuck with stained teeth anymore. You can get the movie star smile if you want it.

Teeth whitening is an affordable, safe way to temporarily remove discoloration from your teeth. You can leave the procedure to your dentist or you can take care of it yourself home.

So which method should you choose? Let’s examine them.

Why Whiten?

Your teeth stand out. People notice them when you smile, when you say hello. People whose teeth are in poor condition often feel embarrassed or self-conscious. Having yellow or brownish teeth can be distracting.

Teeth whitening is an easy solution. It’s quick, painless, and effective.

Home Teeth Whitening

It’s possible to whiten your teeth at home without the intervention of anybody else. The DIY process is much cheaper than seeing a professional and is useful for patients who don’t want to schedule an appointment with their dentist.

The at-home methods work but their strength is diluted compared to professional efforts. People who only have mild discoloration would benefit the most from DIY whitening products. There are many different modes of application, ranging from strips that you press onto your teeth to mouthwashes.

Over-the-counter products contain less hydrogen peroxide than the whitening products used by the dentist. That’s why your teeth won’t be as white if you skip the dentist.

You can purchase a kit at most grocery stores and pharmacies. Some dentist offices also sell at-home whitening kits.

Teeth Whitening at the Dentist

If you want your teeth to be as white and natural-looking as possible, you need to go to the dentist. A professional teeth whitening session will leave you with better and longer-lasting results. There are a variety of bleaching products on the market but most of the professional-grade ones have the same application method. There are loads of dentists that you can go to for this type of treatment, for example, you could just go to cosmetic dentist San Diego, but there are plenty of others you could go to.

It depends on the area and reputation of the dentist though, some specialise in different areas of dentistry and its really important to make sure you have the right dentist for the job. My friend went to mountain view dental in kennesaw that specialised in teeth whitening and the service was great so I’m told.

First, you’ll have to go undergo a dental exam. The staff needs to know that your teeth and gums are healthy enough for treatment. You’ll also want to take “before” pictures. Next, a hydrogen peroxide-based bleaching gel is spread onto the teeth. The gel will remain in your mouth for at least 15 minutes before being cleaned off. Your dentist will then reapply the same gel, leaving it on for an additional 15 minutes. My friend was telling me about this with his experience at Thomas Cooke, DDS. They told me that they loved it! They were so understanding and explained all of this to them.

A heat source might be used to help treatment go faster. The entire process can be completed in less than an hour.

Are You a Good Candidate?

You need to have relatively healthy gums and teethbefore a dentist will agree to perform a teeth whitening procedure. If you’re suffering from disease, the bleaching gel might exacerbate it and cause you extreme pain.

One of the benefits of seeing the dentist is that you’ll be able to learn about the condition of your teeth. A lot of people with gum disease don’t notice any symptoms.

Nearly everyone is a good candidate for at-home teeth whitening because the products are milder than those used by professionals. However, for the best results, you should see your dentist and have a professional cleaning performed first. Debris and particles stuck in your teeth will interfere with the bleaching gel.

What’s the Best Choice?

Whether you should utilize a home teeth whitening kit or see a dentist depends heavily on your finances and the state of your teeth.

Whitening your teeth at home is the best way to save money. If your finances are tight, this a great option for you. You can still have your teeth professionally whitened later if you want.

The DIY method is also a solid choice for people who only have slight discoloration.

If you want to see dramatic, eye-popping results, you’ll need to see a professional. Even if your teeth are deeply stained, your dentist might be able to make them shine. The results won’t be permanent but they’ll be noticeable.

There are, however, certain stains that can’t be taken care of by at-home or professional whitening efforts. Your only option in this case is to turn to a different cosmetic dentistry procedure like veneers.

You should also see your dentist if you know that you have fragile or sensitive teeth. People who have specific dental concerns should always be in the care of professionals when they’re having dental work performed.

Maintain Your Smile

A glorious smile full of bright white teeth is within your grasp. In general, you’ll have better results if you see a professional but you don’t have to. An at-home teeth whitening kit will produce more results than doing nothing at all.

You can maintain your new smile by avoiding foods that are known to cause discoloration and sticking to a healthy brushing and flossing schedule.