Do You Want to Whiten Your Teeth? Learn About the Most Common Methods
It used to be that only the Hollywood elite had their teeth whitened, but today the procedure is very common place. In fact, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, whiter teeth is the number one thing that people want to change about the way their smile looks.
Who can and who can’t whiten their teeth?
In most cases, teeth whitening works best for people who have teeth that have been damaged by medications, aging, coffee, tea, smoking cigarettes, or simply heredity. However, in most cases, it’s not a good idea to whiten your teeth if you have sensitive teeth because it can worsen the condition.
In-office teeth whitening
The best option is for you to have your teeth whitened by your dentist. When you choose California Dental Group, you can get whiter teeth faster than if you do it on your own, for a few different reasons. First of all, we have access to prescription strength bleaching solutions. Next, we can couple our solutions with additional methods, such as heat, light, or lasers. This will result in a more dramatic result. In most cases, these procedures won’t be covered by insurance but we can help you find the most affordable option.
At-home whitening gels and strips
These are available over the counter and are typically peroxide based. You use them by applying either a thin strip or gel to your teeth. Most of the time, you apply these products once or twice very day for up to two weeks.
At-home tray based whitening
Another at-home option is tray-based whitening. You can buy this over the counter or we can prescribe you a custom fit tray at California Dental Group. Essentially, the tray looks like a thin mouth guard. You place the gel into the tray, then place the tray over your teeth. This is typically done for about an hour every day for a month.
Whitening toothpaste
Any toothpaste you use will help get rid of surface stains simply because it will have a mild abrasive. However, whitening toothpastes also including polishing agents or chemicals that can improve the effectiveness of stain removal. These toothpastes don’t actually change the color of your teeth, but work to help remove surface stains.
How long do they last? That’s partially up to you
Determining how long teeth whitening methods will last depends in large part on you. They can typically last anywhere from one year to five years, and will last longer for people who don’t smoke and don’t eat or drink foods or beverages that are known to stain teeth.
If you want whiter teeth then we recommend calling California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161. We can go over all your options and help you decide which one is right for you. Remember that there isn’t single method that works before for everyone. Instead, we’ll take your unique needs in mind before giving you your options.
