There are pros and cons to brightening up at the dentist’s office or home teeth whitening. For great results fast – for weddings and other events, in-office whitening is ideal for these patients and it will only take one to two hours. Home teeth whitening may take two weeks of one to two hour daily applications. Some patients start with in-office and continue their teeth whitening at home, with the trays and gel. However, they both produce the same result- a beautiful, confident smile.
Many patients have found that the whitest result that lasted the longest is a combination of in- office and take- home products. The combination of both office and home whitening works well. If you use just home whitening on a regular schedule like once or twice a week, it would whiten your smile as well. ย But, if you are looking for the whit-EST your teeth can get, dentist assisted treatment is best. Besides, a Forest & Ray dental professional can also tell you if you are a candidate for teeth whitening because this cosmetic procedure is not recommended for everyone.
Whitening Toothpastes โย Some whitening toothpastes contain gentle polishing or chemical agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness. Whitening toothpastes can help remove surface stains only and do not contain bleach. Generally, they may make your teeth one shade lighter. By comparison, our dentist prescribed whitening conducted in your dentist’s office can make your teeth three to eight shades lighter.
Over-the-Counter Whitening Strips and Gels โย Whitening gels are clear, peroxide-based gels applied with a small brush directly to the surface of your teeth. ย If you follow the directions carefully, initial results may be seen in a few days and final results are sustained for about four months. Whitening strips are very thin, virtually invisible strips that are coated with a peroxide-based whitening gel. The time frame for results is similar to that of gels.
Whitening Rinses โย Among the newest whitening products available are whitening rinses. Like most mouthwashes, they freshen breath and help reduce dental plaque and gum disease. They also contain whitening agents but donโt expect immediate results as they may not occur for up to 12 weeks because the rinse is only in contact with the teeth for a short time.
Tray-Based Tooth Whiteners โย ย Tray-based tooth whitening systems, purchased either over-the-counter or from a dentist, involve filling a mouth guard-like tray with a gel whitening solution — which contains a peroxide-bleaching agent. ย It is worn mainly during the night for a month or so to effect any whitening.
In-Office Whitening โย ย In-office bleaching provides the quickest way to whiten teeth. With in-office bleaching, the whitening product is applied directly to the teeth. These products can be used in combination with heat, a special light, or a laser. You will see results immediately but it may require repeat visits for optimal whitening.
Many patients have found that the whitest result that lasted the longest is a combination of in- office and take- home products. The combination of both office and home whitening works well. If you use just home whitening on a regular schedule like once or twice a week, it would whiten your smile as well. ย Again, if you are looking for the whit-EST your own teeth can get, dentist assisted treatment is best.
Advice: when beginning your teeth whitening quest and trying to decide whether the dentistโs chair or at home is better–start with us! It is important too for us at Forest & Ray to assess if, in fact, you are even a candidate for teeth whitening. Why not stop in our clinicโlocated in the heart of Londonโto find out? Weโll be waiting for you.
