So, is it worth it? Whether you choose to have your teeth whitened in-office, or opt for the take-home trays, professional teeth whitening is the best choice for permanently whiter teeth. The quick and lasting results combined with an increased comfortability make the higher cost completely worth it.
Dentists typically recommend getting one or two professional whitening treatments per year. At-home whitening kits can be used for up to 14 consecutive days.
The cost of teeth whitening varies per practice. At-home whitening generally costs less than in-chair whitening because you spend less time in practice. You'll also have to pay for a consultation before treatment to make sure you're suitable for teeth whitening.
While at-home teeth whitening costs less than in-office whitening, the results that can be achieved with professional teeth whitening are far superior and involve less risk than what you can get with over-the-counter or at-home methods.
The potential side effects of teeth whitening include teeth sensitivity, gum irritation, and ineffective results. However, most patients do not experience any notable side effects from professional teeth whitening, as the dentist can monitor the process and perform treatment in a way that minimizes risk.
What are the risks of teeth whitening? No matter what treatment you use, there's a chance your gums will be sensitive to the chemicals used in teeth whitening, particularly if you already have sensitive teeth. There's also a chance of burns to gums and some of the whitening kits used at home can harm tooth enamel.
The most effective way to whiten your teeth is professional teeth whitening treatment applied by your dentist in the office. The results of this type of treatment can last between 1 and 3 years. In-office teeth whitening involves the following process: The gum tissue is protected from the effects of the bleaching gel.
There are a number of ways that you can whiten your teeth if they are or have already yellowed; these are a mix of over-the-counter toothpastes, home whitening products or, in some cases, mechanical plaque removal by a dentist or hygienist.
Even with daily brushing, certain foods and drinks can cause stained teeth. For example, frequently drinking coffee, tea and wine can all lead to yellow teeth. In addition, even regular brushing cannot always combat yellow teeth caused by smoking cigarettes.
Also, if you have poor oral health or an underlying medical condition that affects the teeth, the teeth whitening procedure may make the teeth yellow. This is because the dentin has a yellowish hue under the enamel. So, when the enamel thins, your teeth become translucent and may look yellow.
In fact, it might take as little as a single visit to whiten your teeth. In other cases, it can take upwards of 10 visits to the dentist to lighten the hue of your teeth.
The mouth tray should be kept in the mouth for about two hours each use. People who develop sensitive teeth after starting whitening treatments should cut back to an hour per whitening session.
Professional teeth whitening costs can vary, starting at around $250 for bleaching trays and getting as high as $650 for in-chair whitening procedures. If you're wondering “how much does in office teeth whitening cost?”, your best bet is to approach your dentist and get a pricing quote from there.
After the 30-60 minutes treatment, your teeth whitening may vary: from 10 to 15 shades whiter, to 2 to 5 shades lighter.
Brushing your teeth is meant to remove harmful bacteria and plaque but not to whiten them. As recommended by your dentist, brushing twice a day is vital because it prevents cavities and tooth decay. Brushing alone will not whiten your teeth, though, and even whitening toothpaste only has a minimal effect on your teeth.
In our modern day of internet dating and blind date setups, first impressions can be a big, big deal. That said, few people include “canary yellow teeth” on their list of turn-ons. In fact, both men and women commonly find yellow teeth a turn-off at best and a deal breaker at worst.
All in all, most people should expect to get brighter teeth anywhere between two weeks and six weeks, provided they use the selection of teeth whitening products described above. Youcan go with a bleaching appointment at a local dentist and get brighter teeth within 90 minutes.
However, it's important to understand that your teeth are especially susceptible to discoloration and staining immediately after teeth whitening. Thus, what you do after teeth whitening, especially in the first 48 hours after treatment, determines how well your results will last.
Prolonged Exposure. If you have accidentally left your teeth whitening strips on for too long, it's important to seek dental treatment immediately. These chemicals can cause serious damage to your gums and teeth if not treated promptly.
Teeth whitening treatments, including in-home whitening trays or strips and laser whitening treatments such as Zoom whitening, can cause high levels of teeth sensitivity or pain for some people.
Most teeth whitening dentists use hydrogen peroxide to achieve this goal. Dentists use concentrated hydrogen peroxide gels with heat and light to brighten your teeth in approximately an hour.
Baking soda is good for teeth whitening because it is a very mild abrasive, which helps remove stains from the surface of your teeth. In addition, baking soda is alkaline and salty, which helps lighten acid-based food stains – such as those from coffee, tea, and red wine – on teeth.
Tooth Whitening doesn't work for everyone, but unfortunately, some people don't care and will continually whiten their teeth to the point of enamel damage.