Teeth Whitening Options Explained

Teeth Whitening Options Explained: Having a dazzling smile is something that will always be bang on-trend. It’s also an extremely desirable facial characteristic, second only to the eyes, and is one of the things people notice first when meeting someone new. A whiter smile has been known to make one’s face appear younger and increases self-confidence, with teeth whitening methods becoming more popular as time goes on. There are numerous ways to whiten your smile today, and there’s guaranteed to be a solution that fits about every budget or time constraint.

Professional Bleaching

Usually accomplished in a single visit and in as little as an hour, dentists apply a super-strong peroxide solution to teeth and use laser heat and/or light to accelerate the bleaching process. The results are immediate and much greater than most at-home methods but can be quite pricey at $500 to $700 for a treatment.

Whitening Trays and Gels

These are plastic or silicone mouth guards that fit over the teeth after a peroxide-based whitening gel is applied to each tooth. Waiting time per treatment is about 10 to 30 minutes, and it’s convenient for home use. There are two kinds of whitening trays: those prescribed by a dentist and those found over the counter. The dentist-based version runs about $250 to $400 but produces fast, effective results while having a tray custom-fitted for your mouth to reduce gum irritation. The over-the-counter brands come with generic-sized trays but tend to be much less expensive.

Whitening Strips

Thin plastic peel-off strips containing bleaching agents are wrapped around the top and bottom teeth. They produce effective results but may take longer than professional treatments to see results. They’re also easy to use, convenient, and range about $10 to $50 depending on the whitening level desired.

Whitening Toothpaste

These don’t technically “bleach” the teeth, but instead, contain special abrasives and polishing agents to remove stubborn stains from the enamel. If minimal whitening is needed, or if you’re in the market for a product to help maintain those pearly whites, whitening toothpaste could be just what you’re looking for. Ranging about $3 to $10 for a month’s worth, it’s also kind to your wallet.

Whitening Rinses

One of the gentlest forms of tooth whitening on the market, rinses can be used alone after brushing or in conjunction with other whitening treatments for enhanced effects. These are standard mouthwash formulas with a special bleaching agent that helps to whiten even between the teeth but can take up to 12 weeks for visible results if used alone. A month’s supply costs around $10.

It’s important to always check with a dentist before starting any tooth-whitening regimen, to ensure that teeth and gums are healthy enough to withstand the bleaching process. Also, keep in mind that no matter how spectacular the results may be, they are neither permanent nor an excuse for poor dental hygiene. Food, wine, and tobacco will re-stain teeth over time, so maintaining a twice-daily brushing and flossing routine is imperative for a longer-lasting sparkly smile.