Daily activities like eating pizza or drinking coffee can cause stains to build up over time on your teeth. If you want brighter teeth, you need deep teeth cleanings to get rid of these stains. Fortunately, there are all sorts of teeth whitening options that can remove stubborn stains and help you get the smile you have always dreamed of. Each technique has its own pros and cons, so you should educate yourself before making a decision.
Over-the-Counter Teeth Whitening Options
First up are over-the-counter teeth whiteners. There are a variety of products available claiming to whiten your teeth. You can find paint-on gels or trays that you apply over your teeth. There are also strips that you stick to your teeth. All of these tend to have low levels of hydrogen peroxide, and you need to apply them daily for a couple of weeks to show results. Another choice is teeth whitening toothpaste. These may have peroxide, or they may have abrasive material. Usually, they can just lighten your teeth about one shade.
Over-the-counter teeth whiteners have the advantage of being cheap and easy to access at any time. However, they can take a while to show results, and some can damage teeth when misused at home. Therefore, those who want safe and effective whitening should take the time to speak to the professionals at Lovett Dental Conroe for assistance.
In-Office Bleaching
One of the most common options for those who want effective teeth whitening is simply scheduling a teeth bleaching appointment. This dental procedure at our cosmetic dentistry involves a dentist applying a bleaching solution to your teeth in their office. Depending on how stained your teeth are, you may need to make several office visits of around a half-hour in length. Some dentists have access to special techniques like the Zoom system that can provide similar results over the course of a single, two-hour-long appointment.
Like most over-the-counter options, dentist in-office bleaching also has peroxide. However, they have far stronger solutions. In-office systems can have up to 43% peroxide while over-the-counter options do not have more than 20%. This means that they provide noticeable results in a very short amount of time. In addition to high peroxide solutions, dentists may also have access to special lights that further activate the solution and speed up results.
Prescribed Teeth Whitening Trays and Gels
If you want dental-office-strength teeth whitening but do not want to spend a lot of time at the office, talk to your dentist about prescription strength, at-home teeth whitening kits. These kits let you apply the same solution used for in-office bleaching yourself. Your dentist will set you up with several custom trays shaped to fit your mouth. Then, you just apply the bleaching gel to the tray and insert it for the desired amount of time.
The benefit of these treatments is that it is convenient yet also affordable. While not quite as cheap as over-the-counter solutions, it can still save you several hundreds of dollars compared to dentist office visits. You still get very impressive results, thanks to the strong teeth whitening gels. Another perk of this option is that your dentist can still monitor you every step of the way, so you do not accidentally weaken your tooth enamel.
Contact Lovett Dental Conroe
Still not sure which option you prefer? The experienced dentists at Lovett Dental Conroe can give you a consultation and discuss options that suit your budget, goals, and preferences. We also help with a variety of other dental services, including fillings, veneers, braces, and root canals. Learn more about all our services by dialing 936-760-2400.
