Teeth whitening is one of the easiest ways to improve your smile. It is quick, cost-effective, and noninvasive. Though some cosmetic treatment patients experience short-term sensitivity, most experience no tooth whitening pain at all.
If you have looked into teeth whitening, you probably already know the basics. The one thing they have in common is that they use a solution containing peroxide to remove the stains that have settled in the natural microscopic cracks in your tooth enamel.
There are many DIY teeth bleaching products available, and it seems like new ones appear every time you visit the toothpaste aisle at your drug store.
These tooth whitening strips and tooth whitening pens can sometimes whiten your teeth a few shades, but the peroxide concentration is much lower than the whitening solutions used in cosmetic dental offices. It may not be strong enough for your tooth stains.
Tooth whitening offered at mall kiosks is risky, also. Most of these teeth whitening businesses have no professional oversight and the employees have little dental training. (Except instruction on how to take advantage of customer naivety.)
Dr. Stephen Malfair recommends that you use extreme caution when considering a take-home tooth whitener. If you have tooth decay, gum recession, crowns, or veneers, you definitely need professional guidance.
The portion of your teeth below the gumline, if exposed, may respond differently to tooth whitener. Additionally, the peroxide solution does not noticeably whiten crowns and veneers. If you use a DIY tooth whitener on teeth with extensive porcelain restorations, you should probably hope it doesn’t whiten too much – you may end up with a two- or three-tone smile!
Schedule a tooth bleaching evaluation before you waste your cash on more Crest White Strips. We can be reached at 250-860-8900.
