Whiter Teeth? There Are So Many Options!
Are you about ready to give up deciding which are the best teeth whiteners method to use to whiten your teeth? Don’t feel alone. Back in the ‘90’s, the only way to achieve a whiter smile was to 1) get veneers (thin slivers of lighter shaded porcelain bonded to your natural teeth-about $4000); 2) have your teeth crowned (“capped”- about $5000); or, 3) have a dentist apply a peroxide based gel to your teeth, either in the dental office, at home with mouth trays custom made for you by the dentist, or a combination of the two (about $300 - $400).
It seemed simple enough, to the tune of $300-$5000, depending upon your choice. However, it’s now the 21st Century, and the self improvement movement that began in the ‘90’s has seen advances in nutrition, exercise technique and philosophy, hair transplantation, and plastic surgery, including in-office procedures such as botox injections and dermabrasion. Driven by the needs and desires of the “baby boomers” (mid ‘50’s to mid ‘60’s), our culture has demanded improved technology in cosmetic procedures to enhance the quality of life resulting from advances in longevity. We are living longer, so we want to enjoy a younger, active, more vital lifestyle.
Since the face is generally the focal point of one’s appearance, dentistry also found a niche: providing that “movie star” smile. As the tooth bleaching techniques evolved, so did the number of choices as to how you may get your tooth shade lightened.
Unless there is structural damage to the tooth itself, veneers and crowns are no longer considered viable options for whitening. The procedures are too expensive and certainly not appropriately conservative for changing the shade of one’s teeth. The trip to the dentist for whitening is still the wisest choice by far. The fees have not changed dramatically, and you are under the care and supervision of a trained professional. Additionally, most dentists are interested in satisfied patients, so if you need another treatment to reach the desired shade, he or she will most likely be happy to administer an additional treatment. There are several choices for whitening in the dental office; few dentists offer more than one technique. Some still use the custom tray and peroxide gel method with good results. This technique may take two-three visits and require the wearing of the trays with the gel in them for certain periods of time, such as while you sleep, for about two weeks.
The most convenient and effective way of in-office bleaching is now done in a single appointment using a light that activates the gel after it is placed on the teeth. The results can be as much as five shades lighter in a single one-hour appointment. You will need to do some research in you local dental community to locate which dentists use this technique.
Now comes the truly difficult part. Nearly every pharmaceutical company that has ever sold a toothbrush is marketing a tooth whitening product that is offered over the counter. We are even bombarded with emails, pop-ups and television infomercials claiming to permanently brighten your smile for as little as $19.95, or as much as $50.00. Some come with trays and gel, some with syringes, and most popularly, in the form of “strips” impregnated with a peroxide formula. Each has different instructions regarding use: some two hours a day, some all night, some for two weeks.
If you haven’t picked up on it by now, the one common factor in all these products and procedures is that the whitening or bleaching material is fundamentally a peroxide-based compound called cabamide peroxide. The in-office dental procedures are the quickest and most effective due to the previously mentioned professional supervision and the concentration or strength of the gel solution. Most in the office are about 22% carbamide peroxide, although they can be as high as 35% (reportedly accompanied by temporary levels of tooth sensitivity following the procedure), or as low as 10%. The keys to finding a satisfactory over the counter product (as they all work to some extent) are: 1) determining which technique is best for you (trays, strips, rinses, etc.). All of them are not user friendly; 2) finding that appears effective that you can afford; and 3) check the ingredients. Try to find a product that contains the highest percentage of carbamide peroxide. The drug store formulas are never as strong as those at the dentist’s office and therefore quite safe.
Nothing beats the professional supervision and quality of materials available at the dentist, but if that’s not for you, a small amount of research should help you find the over the counter teeth whiteners product right for you.
Subscribe to the comments for this postBest Over The Counter Teeth Whiteners
Teeth whitening and teeth bleaching are often interchanged to refer to the process of aesthetically making the teeth appear pleasantly white in color. Technically however, bleaching strictly applies to those products containing bleach, such as carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. Bleaching is used to make the teeth whiter beyond the natural color. Whitening is the restoration of the natural surface color of the teeth which suffered discoloration due to dirt and debris. But since teeth whitening does sound better than bleaching, this term is also used for products containing bleach. In choosing the best teeth whiteners, it is best to know the different options available.
Depending on one’s choice or budget, teeth whitening can be instantly done in one sitting. This is called the ‘in-office whitening’ where a professional trained technician or a dentist will apply high levels of the powerful hydrogen peroxide. This chemical works best given a time restriction, as is works faster than its slower counterpart, the carbamide peroxide. For stubborn stains, additional sessions may be conducted or the client may be advised to continue the process using take-home kits for whitening.
Another process to be considered as one of the best teeth whiteners is the take home whitening kit. As compared with the ‘in-office whitening’ procedure, this process is relatively safe yielding the same effectiveness. With the use of bleaching trays, that look like mouth trays, gels can be applied to the teeth. These gels have low concentration of peroxide making them safe to be administered at home, and allowing them to stay on the teeth even for an overnight basis.
A final option for making use of the best teeth whiteners available is the use of a bleaching gel available over the counters. It comes in the forms of whitening strips, trays that can fit all frames and paint-on applicators. These are the various over the counter teeth whitening options available. Choose one that will give the you best result.
At Home Teeth Whiteners Can Save Money
Perhaps you have been looking for teeth whitener reviews for some time. What is the best teeth whitener? How much does the system cost? These are very legitimate questions as teeth whitening systems being offered today are numerous and many can be quite expensive. At Home Teeth Whiteners Can Save Money.
There is a home teeth-whitening remedy that you can try that might save you some money in your quest to have that celebrity bright white smile. With a little patience and disciplined application of these home products you may be able to lighten your teeth several shades and wonder why you ever considered anything else in teeth whitening products.
If you have baking soda and hydrogen peroxide on hand, you can make your own tooth whitening paste. Start by mixing a few teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide with two teaspoons of baking soda in a small bowl. The ingredients will form a paste. You can add a squirt of regular toothpaste or a pinch of mint to make it more flavorful. The taste of peroxide is not very pleasant on its own. Brush your teeth with the home made paste two or three times a week. Soon your teeth will begin to lighten. This home remedy may not work as well on teeth that have been damaged by medications or enamel erosion so consult your dentist before trying it out. You must be disciplined and patient as this home remedy takes time, but the benefits of saving money may be just what you are looking for. The best teeth whiteners don’t have to costs 100’s or 1000’s of dollars . Let us know how it worked for you
Laser Teeth Whitening System Surges In Popularity
Everyone wants white teeth and there is no limit to the methods available to obtain that Hollywood smile. In fact Hollywood helped with making this procedure so popular with a television make-over shows that show dramatic results of on air make over participants. Teeth whitening has become the most popular cosmetic dental procedure in the United States.
Laser teeth whitening has become among the more popular methods for teeth whitening. Laser teeth whitening has become the treatment of choice for many patients because of its ease and the speed at which it delivers results. Laser teeth whitening can often produce noticeable improvements in just one office visit. There is nothing that restores self-confidence and self esteem quicker that a pearly white smile, but choosing the laser method of whitening your teeth comes at a price.
Laser teeth whitening can easily run over $1000.00 . Most dental plans do not cover this procedure. As a result many people are looking to do-it-yourself products to save money. More on those later.
A gel is applied to the teeth and a laser activates the crystals within the gel. Those crystals then are absorbed in the tooth enamel and the whitening process is achieved.
The results are usually dramatic and very satisfying to the patient.
When considering laser tooth whitening one must understand why your teeth are discolored to begin with. Teeth lose their whiteness for many reasons such as drinking coffee or tea, wine, sodas, or smoking tobacco. Continuing with these habits will find your teeth discolored again, so its best to give these things up before considering laser teeth whitening. Laser teeth whitening is an option for even people with sensitive teeth. However you can expect some sensitivity during and after the procedure. Other than that laser whitening has virtually no side effects and given proper care your teeth will remain white for two or three years. The cost is dependent on how many visits are needed to achieve the desired effect.
Laser tooth whitening has no side effects, and the teeth remain white for two to three years. A laser is soundless and makes no physical contact with the teeth. The cost of this whitening procedure depends on the number of sessions required to achieve the desired level of whiteness. The duration of a laser treatment can vary, depending on the usage.
It is recommended that individuals explore all options when considering a teeth-whitening program. Everyone has different needs and some discoloration are more stubborn that others to overcome.
The Professional Teeth Whitening Treatments Plan
Professional reviews and analysis agree that if you want your teeth their brightest and whitest the professional tooth-whitening treatments used by your dentist are the quickest and most successful way to brighten your smile. We recommend having the procedure done by your own dentist using the popular Zoom Chair-side Whitening System. Your dentist will use light therapy techniques to speed the bleaching action of the hydrogen peroxide. This procedure can lighten teeth up to ten shades in a standard hour long appointment with your dentist.
This is by far the most expensive option, but the results are both proven and amazing and can last close to two years. But again, this is the most expensive options and costs can vary depending on your dentist. Another notably less expensive option is an ADA approved bleaching kit provided by your dentist. They include a custom fit mouth tray you wear at your convenience in the comfort of your home for one to two hours per day and can cost anywhere from $300 to $600.
There are many over-the-counter whitening systems available that are far less expensive but they are not nearly as effective or long-lasting as the professional whitening systems. They are worn for 30 minutes twice a day for a week. They use 10% peroxide and on average lighten teeth more than three shades. These products are a great alternative to the professional whitening systems used by dentists, but again, it depends upon the individual results you want to achieve in your smile.
