Almost everyone would like a whiter and shinier smile, and there are certainly many products that claim to help people achieve that. If you’ve looked over the shelves of your local pharmacy or surfed through social media lately, you may have noticed one or more over-the-counter teeth whitening products that are purported to deliver major results. Here’s a brief guide to these store-bought whitening products and a few reasons why professional teeth whitening treatments from your dentist are superior.
Store-Bought Teeth Whitening Kits Can Lead to Injuries
A typical store-bought whitening kit includes a set of one-size-fits-all dental trays and a tube of retail-grade whitening gel. The instructions tell users to apply the gel to these trays and wear them over their teeth for a certain amount of time each day. While this certainly seems simple enough, these kits can lead to injuries due to user error or poor manufacturing. For example, if the one-size-fits-all dental trays do not fit well, the teeth can be unevenly whitened due to inadequate coverage or the gums can be irritated by exposure to the whitening gel.
Store-Bought Whitening Strips and Toothpastes Deliver Inconsistent Results
While store-bought whitening strips and toothpastes are certainly the cheapest option available, it’s important to remember that you get what you pay for. The whitening effects of these products are often quite weak, and many patients report that they do not notice any significant gains after months of use. Regardless of how cheap it is, it simply doesn’t make sense to spend money on a treatment that doesn’t deliver the desired results.
How Are My Dentist’s Teeth Whitening Treatments Different?
Your dentist can provide you with a teeth whitening treatment in the form of a take-home kit that includes customized dental trays and a tube of professional-grade concentrated whitening agent. All the patient must do is apply the gel to the trays and wear them over their teeth for an hour daily for two weeks. Since the trays are customized to match your teeth, the risk of injury is minimal, and since the whitening gel is professional-grade, it can deliver amazing results in a short timeframe.
Don’t risk injuring your teeth with over-the-counter whitening kits or wasting money on ineffective treatments. Consulting with your dentist can determine if professional teeth whitening can be a suitable treatment for you.
About the Author
Dr. Kenneth Bell earned his dental degree at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry and stays abreast of the latest developments in his field by completing continuing education courses. He is a proud member of the Kentucky Dental Association and the Louisville Dental Society, and his office in Louisville, KY, offers general, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry such as teeth whitening treatments. To schedule a consultation for teeth whitening, contact his practice online or dial (502) 749-2355.