Health and Fitness
21 January 2012
Have you noticed all the teeth whitening products that are available today? A casual stroll down the aisles of your favorite pharmacy or superstore reveals shells filled with products promising a whiter, sexier smile. Almost everyone would love to have whiter teeth. If you struggle with stains and discoloration, you may find it difficult to smile. A bright, Hollywood smile is considered by many to be more youthful and attractive. Because whiter teeth are in such high demand, there seems to be a new teeth whitening product released every day. But are they really effective? Can you achieve good results on your own at home, or do you need to go for professional teeth whitening?
At first glance, over-the-counter and professional teeth whiteners may seem very similar. They both come with a tray that fits over your teeth. The tray is filled with tooth whitening gel and placed on your teeth for a short period of time every day for a couple of weeks. With each treatment, stains are removed and your teeth get whiter. Teeth whitening gel usually contain some form of peroxide, which penetrates your tooth enamel and removes stains through the process of oxidation.
Even though they look very much the same, there are actually several differences between tooth whitening products you can buy locally and professional teeth whitening treatments performed by your dentist. First of all, the teeth whitening gel used in most over-the-counter kits has a much lower strength than professional tooth whitener. Since over-the-counter preparations are used without supervision, there was concern that the higher concentrations used in professional tooth whitener might not be safe. The higher concentration of peroxide means that professional teeth whitening treatments will achieve more dramatic results.
When you purchase an over-the-counter tooth whitening kit, the trays that are included usually come in a one-size-fits-all design. As you know, one-size-fits-all usually means that one-size-fits-none-perfectly. Since there won’t be an exact fit to your teeth, there may not be optimal contact between your teeth and teeth whitening gel. There’s also a chance that the tray may irritate your gums or other parts of your mouth where the fit isn’t perfect. When you get professional teeth whitening, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth and create a tray specifically for you. This custom fit ensures better contact between the gel and your teeth and reduces the chance of gum irritation.
A professional teeth whitening process will probably also include some kind of extra protective measures to protect your gums from the oxidizing action of the peroxide gel. With over-the-counter products, there is no extra protection for your gums provided.
When you go to your dentist for professional teeth whitening, the entire process is supervised. Your dentist will start by determining the reason behind your stains and discoloration and to make sure that you’re a good candidate for teeth whitening. Certain kinds of stains may not respond well, even to professional tooth whitener. It would be better to know this before you spend money for teeth whitening products. If you’re dentist believes that whitening will work well for you, he can match the specific type of technique that you need for your specific situation. He will provide spot checks throughout the process, and will follow-up when the whitening is done to help keep your teeth as white as possible. With over-the-counter teeth whitening products, you’re pretty much on your own. If they don’t work, there’s really not much you can do about it.
By the way, you should realize that some people should not try tooth whitening of any kind. Tooth whitening is not recommended for anyone under the age of 16. Children are especially susceptible to nerve irritation and tooth sensitivity caused by teeth whitening products. Women who are pregnant and mothers who are nursing should avoid teeth whitening treatments. Obviously if you have allergies to peroxide you should avoid using any kind of peroxide gel.
Regardless of whether you use over-the-counter kits or visit your dentist for professional teeth whitening, try not to have unrealistic expectations. Experts recommend that your teeth should actually only be slightly whiter than the whites of your eyes. So don’t let Hollywood dictate how you think you should look. Find a look and a smile that’s right for you.
For your ultimate professional teeth whitening information and articles, please visit http://www. best-teeth-whiteners. com. Visit your dentisit for your professional tooth whitening treatment today!
