Some Teeth Whitening Methods Available

Everyone wants a bright, white smile—but a white smile isn’t guaranteed. Due to a variety of reasons (some out of the your control), your teeth may have yellowed or become discolored over time. If this is the case, don’t worry—there are a variety of different methods that you can utilize to whiten your teeth.

What Is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening is any method that is used to whiten a person’s teeth. This may include over-the-counter options, or professional whitening methods only available to dental patients. 

Ways to Whiten Teeth

If you would like to whiten your teeth, you have a variety of different options—some of which are outlined below:

Whitening Products

There are a variety of different over-the-counter whitening products that you can take advantage of, including whitening toothpaste, gum and mouthwash. While these options won’t provide the same level of results as a professional bleaching agent, they may still resolve discoloration issues for people with mild yellowing. 

Proper Care

By properly brushing, flossing, rinsing and visiting your dentist every six months for a cleaning, you’ll find that your teeth are naturally whiter. There are also certain things that you can avoid—like smoking and staining foods and drinks like berries and coffee—that will help to better maintain the color and brightness of your teeth.

Whitening Strips

Whitening strips are a step above the other options mentioned, and really should only be used with the recommendation of your dentist. Strips are a lot stronger than whitening toothpaste or mouthwash, and can cause extreme sensitivity to the teeth if they aren’t strong enough to handle the whitening solution. This is why it’s important to visit your dentist before using strips, or to take advantage of professional whitening treatment options.

Professional Whitening

If proper care and whitening toothpaste or mouthwash isn’t enough, you’ll want to consider professional teeth whitening services that are provided by your dentist. Whether you choose to go with at-home or in-office whitening, you’ll find that your dentist will be able to provide you with options for the whitest teeth possible.

Both in-office and at-home professional treatments use special bleaching solutions that are only available to dentists. In-office treatments can be done in as little as one visit, and are generally completed within an hour or two. At-home treatments, on the other hand, can take one or more weeks to complete.Both in-office and at-home professional treatments will be more expensive than over-the-counter options. In-office is generally around $500, while at-home professional treatment is often around $250. While these options be more expensive than toothpaste, they will also provide significantly better results.

Speak with Your Dentist

Whether you decide that you would like professional teeth whitening or you would like to try over-the-counter strips, you will want to speak with your dentist about the right choice for your teeth whitening. Some patients don’t have strong enough enamel to handle more advanced whitening systems, so it’s extremely important to set an appointment with your dentist to discuss which whitening treatments are right for you.

Renaissance Dental Center, in Raleigh NC, offers professional teeth whitening. Contact our office today to start your consult or schedule your services today.

If you're just interested in learning more about teeth whitening, here's some additional reading on the costs usually associated.