Whitening at Home versus at the Dentist

Teeth whitening is the most popular procedure when it comes to cosmetic dentistry and your efforts to improve an invaluable asset of yours, that being your smile. Unlike implants or veneers, teeth whitening can be done at home versus visiting your dentist, but there are pros and cons.

Know the products

There are many teeth whitening products on the market, including toothpastes, strips and mouthwashes. But the American Dental Association state that there are only two real methods of whitening your teeth; that is a product with bleach and one without. You may fall victim to an advertisement and spend a lot of time with no positive results. And even though the risks are minimal with the process, you need to address the value of your time and the value of your end result in improving your smile.

Pros and Cons, Home or with a Dentist

If you chose to attempt to whiten your teeth at home you don’t have a baseline established. How extensive is your staining? Are the stains on the surface enamel only or do they involve the inside lining of your tooth, the dentin. A dentist will give you a proper evaluation to know the extent of the staining. A dentist will also improve your starting point with a good cleaning prior to starting the process. Now, do you have any idea of the sensitivity of your teeth before you begin? A dentist can do a simple test to determine the correct and appropriate product for you when going through the process to minimize your sensitivity discomfort. If at home, do you have any idea of the conditions of your gums? A dentist can probe your gums and then prep them with a resin to protect them from the whitening product. Having a dental professional will get the whitening process done inside of three visits with exceptional results. Doing the whitening at home, with a kit purchased at retail, might take quite some time and may never yield the same results.

Continuing on

Another benefit of using a dentist for your whitening is he or she will qualify how you got your stains, whether it is your eating and drinking habits, or whether it was something in your childhood, and suggest how you can extend the life of your whitening. For example, coffee, red wine, tea and cola will immediately start staining your teeth again. As will any tobacco products. But if you had an antibiotic as a child it may have darkened your dentin and you can’t change that moving forward. Think of some of the services you employ around your home versus chores you take care of yourself. Teeth whitening at home versus at the dentist is a decision you should lean towards allowing the professional to assist you. Do it right to regain that award winning smile of yours and keeping it that way moving forward with your day to day oral hygiene habits.

Find out more about professional teeth whitening today? Contact Iowa Dental Group Today!