Teeth Whitening – The Only Two Real Options

If you are considering having your teeth whitened, you should be aware that there are two very different methods that are available to you. One is not necessarily better than the other, but they do suit different lifestyle choices, and there will probably be one that jumps out at you over the other:

Tray based teeth whiteners

This method is one that you can do yourself at home, which means that when you purchase the package – either from an over the counter pharmacy, or from your dentist – you will need to make sure that you follow the directions absolutely perfectly. The way that it works is quite simple; within the package you will find a tray that looks like a mouth guard. You will need to fill this mouth guard with the whitening solution, which has a peroxide bleaching agent within it. Although each make is different, you will probably wear this mouth guard a little every day for around four weeks – though some take longer, and some will be much shorter because you will wear the mouth guard over night. The exact amount of time, of course, will be up to you – you will have to decide how much whiter you want your teeth to be.

In office whitening

The other method for whitening your teeth is to go to your dentist, and have them do it for you. They will use a slightly different method for whitening your teeth, although at the beginning it is very similar. Firstly, your dentist will apply a whitening solution (much like that put into the mouth guard) on your teeth. Your dentist could then apply a laser, or a light, or heat, or a combination of these factors. That will speed up the whitening process for you. This means that you could see a dramatic improvement in the whiteness of your teeth with just one treatment. Treatments will generally last half an hour or an hour. If you are looking for a dramatic change, however, your dentist will probably inform you that you will require a second, or third treatment. This is the more expensive method of having your teeth whitened, because it requires the expert hand of a dentist.

How white will my teeth get?

Every single person is different, and you will have to consider many different factors when thinking about how white your teeth will get. Firstly, it will depend on how stained your teeth were in the first place. Secondly, it will depend on the condition of your teeth – healthier teeth always respond much better. Lastly, it will depend on how long the treatments that you had were, and how many treatments you chose to have. Combined, these factors should give you a good indication on how white you can expect your teeth to look.

How long does teeth whitening last?

Very few cosmetic procedures last a life time, and teeth whitening is no exception. The exact same reasons why your teeth became stained in the first place will still apply to you after you have received the teeth whitening treatment, and so the more factors there are in your life to stain your teeth, the shorter amount of time the whitening will last. Risk factors include drinks that will stain your teeth such as red wine and coffee, foods that will stain your teeth such as beetroot and liquorice, and activities that will stain your teeth such as smoking. However, if you decide to remove these sorts of factors from your life then your teeth whitening process could last a very long time indeed – perhaps even over a year. Your dentist may suggest top up treatments every now and again to ensure that there is not too much difference between whitenings.

For more information or to book an appointment for teeth whitening in San Diego, visit:

https://sandiegodentist.org/cosmetic-dentistry/teeth-whitening/zoom-teeth-whitening/