Do you want to take some steps to whiten your teeth, but are not quite ready to go to the dentist to have laser whitening done professionally? If so, it helps to know what your options are for home whitening.
1. Whitening Strips
Whitening strips are very affordable and can be purchased over the counter and are very easy to use on your own. They work by applying a strip with a hydrogen peroxide solution to your teeth and keeping them there for several minutes. You then remove the whitening strip and repeat the process the next day. After a couple of weeks' worth of treatments, you can make your teeth a shade or two whiter.
One thing to know about whitening strips is that they work best on teeth that can stay dry while the strips stay on your teeth. If you tend to produce a lot of saliva, whitening strips may not be best for you.
It's also important to know that every type of whitening strip product is different, and could have different directions. Don't assume that the whitening strips you've used in the past need to be left on your teeth for the same amount of time because there could be a higher or lower concentration of hydrogen peroxide and require different amounts of time for the strips to work.
2. Whitening Trays
The other option you can do at home is to use whitening trays. Your dentist can make a custom fit tray that goes on your teeth, which is used to hold a hydrogen peroxide gel against it. It's very similar to using a whitening strip product because they both use hydrogen peroxide, but it can be much easier to use than whitening strips.
You'll also find that using whitening trays can also lead to better or faster results. This is because your dentist can give you a peroxide gel at a higher concentration than what you find at your local drug store. This can result in having whiter teeth by gaining an extra few shades of whiteness during the process. The trays are also much better for those people that produce a lot of saliva because the trays won't move because of it.
This is just a brief overview of your options. Reach out to dental clinics like Cottonwood Dental if you have questions about getting custom whitening trays that perfectly fit your mouth.
Share28 September 2021
Halloween is a holiday that my children love, and telling them they can't go door-to-door collecting candy would break their hearts. This led me to allowing them to collect candy on the holiday, then rationing it out to them every day instead of letting them gobble it up in just a few days. I always thought this was better for them, but my dentist told me this could be the reason why their February dental check-ups were always their worst ones. Daily candy consumption was taking a toll on their teeth. I started a new tradition of letting them indulge for two days, then giving them the option to swap the rest with me in exchange for a new toy. They never pass on the opportunity for a new toy. I created this blog to encourage other parents find similar tactics to keep their children's teeth healthy after Halloween.