Teeth Whitening: Comparing Professional and Home-Based Teeth Whitening
Do you desire a healthy, bright, flawless smile? Many factors like trauma, diet, genetics, aging, and smoking can cause your teeth to stain or discolor, making you feel embarrassed about showing your smile when speaking or taking pictures. Teeth whitening or bleaching is an excellent way to remove teeth stains, yellowing, and discoloration from teeth for a sparkling whiter, and brighter smile.
Fortunately, there are many teeth whitening options you can use to restore the sparkle in your smile. This article discusses professional vs. home-based teeth whitening treatments to help you decide which option is ideal for you.
At-Home Remedies for Teeth Whitening
At-home teeth whitening involves using home-based products to remove stains and whiten teeth. Common remedies for teeth whitening at home include:
Activated charcoal:
Activated charcoal is believed to be very absorbent and helps remove toxins and stains from the teeth. You can prepare activated charcoal at home or use activated charcoal toothpaste or capsule to brush your teeth. Since activated charcoal is highly abrasive, brush gently to avoid eroding the teeth.
Baking soda:
Baking soda is a common home ingredient for teeth whitening thanks to its abrasive nature. Make a baking soda paste by mixing water and baking soda, and brush your teeth gently several times a week. Please note that extended use of baking soda can cause erode your teeth.
Eat crunchy fruits and vegetables:
Chewing crunchy fruits and vegetables can help remove hard plaque and debris from teeth, brightening your teeth and preventing your stains.
Hydrogen peroxide:
Hydrogen peroxide is often used in both professional and at-home whitening treatments. Mix hydrogen peroxide with water, swish it for a few minutes, and then spit.
Apple cider vinegar:
Apple cider vinegar is highly abrasive and can help remove teeth stains. Mix about 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a glass of water and swish for 30 seconds. Spit and rinse your mouth with water. Wait at least minutes to brush your teeth.
Oil pulling:
Essential oils like coconut oil can absorb stains and toxins from teeth for a brighter and healthier smile. Take a teaspoon of coconut oil, swish it vigorously around the teeth for a few minutes, and then spit.
Over-the-counter whitening products:
You can also bleach your teeth at home with OTC whitening products like whitening toothpaste, strips, trays, and mouth rinses.
While these remedies are cheap and effective for some people, there’s limited research about their effectiveness or safety as teeth whitening treatments. Therefore, it’s critical to use them cautiously and, if possible, consult your dentist before using them. Notify your dentist if you experience side effects like teeth sensitivity after whitening your teeth.
Professional Teeth Whitening
As the name suggests, professional teeth whitening is provided by dental professionals like a dentist or hygienists. Professional teeth whitening treatments are categorized into two main types:
- In-office teeth whitening: In-office whitening is performed in the dental office. The dentist will clean your teeth to remove plaque and tartar buildup. Then, they apply a high-concentrated bleaching gel to the teeth and use a special light or laser to activate the treatment. After whitening, the dentist will clean and polish your teeth for a smooth and bright appearance. The results are immediate, and you can whiten your teeth up to 8 shades.
- At-home custom trays: The dentist creates custom-fit trays and bleaching gel for use at home. You should wear the tray with the whitening gel for several minutes daily for several weeks.
While more expensive than home-based teeth whitening treatments, professional teeth whitening treatments come with several benefits, including:
- Quick results: You can brighten your teeth up to 8 shades in a single procedure.
- Customized treatments: The dentist customizes your whitening treatments based on your condition and needs.
- Guaranteed results: Before the whitening treatments, the dentist will examine your stains to determine whether they can be whitened. Thus, your results are guaranteed.
Visit our office for professional teeth whitening near you.
Choosing the Right Teeth Whitening Treatment
Below are several factors to consider when choosing a teeth whitening treatment:
- Teeth whitening cost: Home remedies or take-home whitening trays may be ideal if you’re on a tight budget.
- Time frame: If you’re looking for a quick and dramatic solution, in-office teeth whitening can give you the smile of your dreams in less than 2 hours.
- The severity of stains: If you only have minor teeth stains, at-home remedies can be ideal. Deep stains may require professional whitening treatment.
- Side effects and complications: Since professional whitening is prepared and offered by a dental professional, they are typically safer than at-home remedies. Most home remedies are highly abrasive and can cause teeth erosion if used regularly.
Visit Our Office for Teeth Whitening in Weymouth, MA.
Teeth whitening is an excellent way to remove stains for a brighter, whiter, flawless smile. For more information about teeth whitening treatments, contact and book our dentist appointment at Weymouth Dental Associates to speak with our dentist near you.