Why whiten your teeth in the first place?
Your smile is one of your most important physical features. We’ve all heard the saying “your smile is worth a thousand words.” This shouldn’t be all that surprising as people often make all sorts of judgments based on your smile. A teeth whitening treatment for the bright white smile you want may be the confidence booster you need.
Teeth whitening removes stains through a highly effective bleaching process and can get rid of discoloration from tea, coffee, and even tobacco. And if you think you might want veneers or other cosmetic dentistry in the future, it is best to whiten your teeth first. This ensures that future restorations are matched to your already whitened teeth. In addition, depending on which whitening option you select, you can also make sure that your teeth are camera ready for your next professional headshot or social event.
In-Office vs. At-Home Options
There is a lot of confusion out there about the differences between in-office and at-home teeth whitening. We’ve outlined exactly what you should know about each method so you can determine the best whitening approach for you.
Let’s start by clarifying the three different approaches to teeth whitening with a good-better-best approach.
Good: Over-the-Counter Whitening Kits
Whitening strips and gel kits are popular, inexpensive ways to whiten your teeth. Purchased over the counter, these products are accessible to most people and easy to do at home. They normally use either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide to reach and lighten the color deep within your teeth. The drawback is that because they are mass produced, the strips won’t fit your teeth perfectly, and the gels tend to be messy. As an alternative, you can always try a whitening toothpaste. Either way, over-the-counter whitening is a great place to start if you only have mild staining and just want your front teeth a bit whiter.
Better: At-Home Whitening Kits From Your Dentist
Suppose you are looking for an at-home teeth whitening option but want better results than an over-the-counter product. In that case, many dental practices, including Millennium Dental, offer take-home whitening kits. Yet another way of whitening teeth, at-home whitening trays like those provided by Dr. Harrison use peroxide-based gel to bleach your teeth. With an at-home whitening kit from your dentist, you apply gel each day by using a customized bleaching tray. You’ll continue the process for about two weeks and will start to see results within a short time period. As with any whitening product, you may experience short-term tooth or gum sensitivity. If you notice sensitivity, your dentist may recommend temporarily discontinuing your gel or counteracting the sensitivity with a sensitive toothpaste.
Best: In-Office Whitening Treatment
If you are looking for the best and fastest results, then in-office teeth whitening is what you want. Dr. Harrison offers the single-procedure Zoom whitening treatment. Zoom involves a specially formulated gel that penetrates the stains in your teeth when exposed to ultraviolet light. The combination of light and gel breaks down the stains and leaves your smile brighter and whiter in less than two hours!
Let Millennium Dental guide your teeth whitening experience.
Every smile tells a story, and a bright white smile paints the picture of confidence, good health, happiness, and friendliness. If your smile doesn’t make you feel amazing and you’re ready to take that first step in your smile makeover, contact the Millennium Dental team directly at (972) 521-7241 or schedule an appointment through our website.
Let us show you our patient-centric approach to cosmetic dentistry and teeth whitening. Teeth whitening is safe, effective, affordable, and as little as one appointment away. We can’t wait to help you achieve your perfect smile.
