A bright, sparkling smile can enhance your beauty and boost your self-worth and confidence. However, with factors like age, diet, and lifestyle habits, your teeth can lose their sparkle over time, resulting in a less attractive smile.
Teeth whitening is an effective solution for enhancing the sparkle in your teeth for a brighter and aesthetically pleasing smile. In this article, let’s discuss at-home remedies vs. professional teeth whitening methods to help you make an informed decision.
For effective and safe teeth whitening, it’s crucial to understand teeth stains and discoloration. Teeth stains are categorized into two types: extrinsic and intrinsic stains. Extrinsic discoloration refers to surface stains that affect your tooth’s enamel and are commonly caused by smoking and pigmented foods and beverages. These stains are fairly easy to remove with teeth whitening.
Intrinsic stains affect the inner structure of the tooth, the dentin. It often develops from aging, trauma, excessive fluoride, and certain medications. Unfortunately, deep discoloration may not respond well to teeth whitening. You may need alternate cosmetic treatments like veneers, bonding, or crowns to improve your smile.
Visiting our cosmetic dentist near you for an exam before teeth whitening can help you understand what type of stains you have and whether they can respond to teeth whitening.
DIY teeth whitening treatments are popular for their cost-effectiveness, ease of use, and convenience. Natural remedies for teeth whitening include:
Brushing teeth with baking soda has been used for decades to remove teeth stains. The abrasive nature of baking soda helps deactivate teeth stains from your enamel, brightening your teeth. You can make a brushing paste by mixing baking soda and water. Use it once or twice per week. Be mindful, as regular use can erode the enamel.
Oil pulling with essential oils like coconut or sesame oils can help absorb stains, bacteria, and toxins from your teeth, giving you a healthy and brighter smile. For this remedy, just swish a little oil in the mouth for about 15 minutes.
Often used in commercial or professional teeth whitening products, you can use hydrogen peroxide at home to remove teeth stains. Dilute and use as a mouthwash. Similarly, you can make a paste for brushing with baking soda.
Due to its acidity, apple cider vinegar can help remove teeth stains and brighten your teeth. Mix with baking soda to form a paste or dilute to make a mouthwash. Using it sparingly as excessive use can erode your teeth.
Alternatively, you can use pre-made whitening products like toothpaste, gels, strips, and trays to whiten your teeth. These products contain bleaching or abrasive ingredients that lighten teeth for a whiter smile.
Professional teeth whitening is performed by dental professionals. The treatments are categorized into two types:
In-office whitening is completed in the dental office. The process typically begins by cleaning your teeth to remove surface plaque, tartar, or stains. Then, your teeth are isolated. The dentist applies a highly-concentrated whitening gel to the teeth. A special laser or light can be used to activate the bleaching effects and enhance your results.
After the treatment, the dentist will clean and polish your teeth for a smooth and brighter finish. You’ll leave the dental office within 2 hours with a whiter, brighter, and more appealing smile.
Alternatively, your dentist can create custom trays and whitening gel for use at home. Each day, you put a specific amount of whitening gel in the custom tray and wear it for a specific time. Based on your condition and goals, the results are noticeable within a few days to weeks.
Pros
Cons
Professional treatments contain highly customized and concentrated bleaching agents, making them more effective, even for deep stains, than natural or over-the-counter whitening products.
Professional treatments use more concentrated bleaching agents than at-home remedies, providing faster results. In-office whitening can achieve a dazzling, brighter smile in less than 2 hours.
Generally, professional treatments are provided by dental professionals, reducing the risk of potential complications. Therefore, they are considered safer than at-home remedies.
At-home whitening remedies are typically cheap than professional whitening. However, professional cleaning achieves better, guaranteed, and more durable results, making it cost-effective in the long run.
Know more information about teeth whitening and Smile Makeovers in Quincy, MA by Contacting or booking a appointment with our dentist at Quincy Dental Associates today.
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