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Teeth whitening is one way that we maintain ourselves publicly in the 21st century. It&#;s no longer categorized with the more supplementary actions of highlights and/or spray tans, but instead, exists as a totally unisex practice that looks much more like normal self-care.
The desire to have nice, white teeth needs no real explanation: They&#;re one of the first (and most noticeable) things people see while they make their 20-second first impression of you. If you plan to speak, there&#;s no hiding them; less-than-perfect teeth can be interpreted as a lack of dedication to oral care or habits like heavy smoking. And lastly, and perhaps most importantly, smiling and laughing are expressions of joy most of the time, and they&#;re the knee-jerk reactions you really want to be able to enjoy without insecurity or second thought.
But why don&#;t we all just have the pros do it for us? Professional teeth whitening is expensive and for many inaccessible. Plus, teeth whitening is something we do many, many times in our lives for a reason. You&#;re probably going to be &#;good&#; for a few weeks before forgetting to use the right toothpaste or until your habits of drinking coffee or red wine or smoking catch up to you.
So, since we&#;re human, affordable, at-home teeth whitening products are one market that you won&#;t see going away anytime soon. Navigating the options, though, is something that doesn&#;t seem to get easier.
There is a lot of interest in white teeth, so there are a lot of products out there claiming to give you what you want.
But which ones work? Which ones work but actually do a ton of damage to your teeth while they work? Which ones should I avoid if I don&#;t want my teeth to fall out immediately after?
In an ideal world, we would all have a friendly neighborhood dentist who didn&#;t mind our 1 p.m. calls on a Saturday because we&#;re at the grocery store right now and would she or he please help narrow down some options.
Most dentists are not there for your supermarket quandaries, and they aren&#;t going to have a predetermined list to write down on your hygiene bib when you ask last-minute what his or her favorite DIY products are. Not to mention that many of us fear asking our dentists in case they sigh and give us an (understandable) plug for professional treatment that we really cannot afford.
So, we asked an expert for you. Dr. Neil Hadaegh DDS, a professional dentist in Beverly Hills, was kind enough to give us his five go-to DIY teeth-whitening products, all of which you can find below accompanied by Dr. Hadaegh&#;s specific reasons why.
1. Opalescence PF 35% Whitening Gel
[Opalescence 35% is] my personal favorite choice and the whitening gel I use. Opalescence is known for their whitening products in the dental industry. I&#;ve gotten amazing results using their whitening gel and typically use their whitening toothpaste to maintain the whiteness of my teeth after I get my desired shade.
The only drawback is that you need custom whitening trays to use this product. It contains Carbamide Peroxide and is the first ADA accepted, syringe delivered, take-home bleaching gel that gives you dramatic results in as little as 30 minutes of use without requiring many applications.
Opalescence PF Mint 35% Teeth Whitening, 4 Syringe Pack, $22.99
Upper and Lower Custom Dental Teeth Whitening Trays, $69
2. Opalescence Go 15%
If you don&#;t have whitening trays and want as close to professional results as possible, the Opalescence Go 15% is the way to go. Like Crest 3D Whitestrips, the whitening gel comes in ready-made trays that adapt to your teeth all the way to your molars. They have 15% Hydrogen Peroxide, which means you only need to wear them for 15-20 minutes a day for 5-10 days. It also contains Potassium nitrate and Fluoride to help reduce sensitivity while strengthening enamel.
Opalescence Go 15%, 10 trays, $68.98
3. Lumibrite 32%
Research has shown that the formulation of Lumibrite has resulted in little to no sensitivity while producing excellent results due to its high concentration of Carbamide Peroxide. Lumibrite requires custom bleaching trays and many of our patients use it because you get dramatic results in much less time than other whitening products.
Lumibrite Teeth Whitening Gel 32%, 6 Syringe Pack, $18.25
Upper and Lower Custom Dental Teeth Whitening Trays, $69
4. Zoom NiteWhite 22% Whitening Gel
NiteWhite is a clinical-grade tooth whitening gel of 22% Carbamide Peroxide. It&#;s medium strength, so it&#;s an excellent option for individuals who have some tooth sensitivity but want a whitening gel that&#;s not too strong or too weak.
It&#;s also the only take-home whitener that combines ACP (Amorphous Calcium Phosphate) with Potassium Nitrate and Fluoride enhancing whitening results while minimizing sensitivity. [It&#;s also to be used with custom whitening trays].
Zoom Nite White 22% Teeth Whitening Gel, $28.58
Upper and Lower Custom Dental Teeth Whitening Trays, $69
Are you interested in learning more about Teeth Whitening Strips? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
5. Crest 3D Whitestrips
[Crest 3D] can be purchased in stores or online and the gel is contained in strips that mold around your teeth. They typically have a lower concentration (10%) of Hydrogen Peroxide so they&#;re better suited for individuals who have sensitive teeth and can&#;t tolerate higher concentrations.
Crest 3D White Whitestrips Professional Effects Treatments, 20 count, available at Target ($43.99) and at Amazon ($41).
At Kirkland Family Dentistry our patients frequently ask about teeth whitening. Indeed, according to a survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, &#;When respondents were asked, &#;What would you like to improve most about your smile?&#; The most common response was: Whiter & brighter teeth.&#;
Your smile creates an immediate impression on people you meet. If you are considering teeth whitening, here are 5 facts you should know.
There are several different reasons that your teeth may have changed color. Commonly, the consumption of certain foods and beverages will change the color of your teeth. Drinking red wine, coffee or tea will stain your teeth. These beverages have pigments that will attach to your tooth enamel. Tar and nicotine found in tobacco products will produce brown and yellow stains, respectfully.
Time also plays a factor. As we age, the outer enamel of our teeth tends to thin, and the underlying yellowish dentin will tend to show through more.
Certain medications may also cause your teeth to become discolored, including some antihistamines, antibiotics, high blood pressure medication, or chemotherapy.
Teeth whitening is a bleaching process achieved with either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. An oxidation reaction takes place that breaks down the staining agents.
Professional teeth whitening at your dentist&#;s office is the fastest and safest way to whiten your teeth. Under the supervision of your dentist, a higher concentration of whitening agents is used. Your gums are protected from exposure to these agents as they otherwise could be damaged by the process. Additionally, a special light or laser may be used to enhance the treatment. This typically takes less than 90 minutes and can produce whitening of your teeth up to 10 shades.
At Kirkland Family Dentistry, we use a special, gentle product which lightens your teeth multiple shades in one short visit. Our professional teeth whitening, and bleaching services remove years&#; worth of staining in a single session. There are also at-home options to consider. These include lower concentrations of the bleaching agents typically applied in trays or strips that stick to your teeth. These products work but are much less effective than the treatments offered at your dentist&#;s office.
Whitening strips are a less expensive alternative to teeth whitening that you can use at home. They consist of a thin strip of material coated with a hydrogen peroxide-based gel. Best results are achieved by wearing the strips 30 minutes at a time, twice a week, for 14 days.
If you have imperfectly situated teeth, you may come into a problem with whitening strips. Since they were designed for people with a perfectly straight smile, any overlapping or turned teeth may end up with odd spots that weren&#;t treated. Or, you could have problems getting the strips to seal correctly.
Whitening trays are a more costly treatment for whitening your teeth, but can be more effective than whitening strips or toothpastes. You fill the tray with the whitening gel and wear the tray for anywhere from 30 minutes a day to overnight, for several weeks.
Over-the-counter whitening tray kits often have trays that don&#;t fit your teeth well and are uncomfortable to wear. If your dentist offers this option, they can custom create whitening trays to fit your teeth &#; allowing you to use less gel and have a more comfortable fit.
Whitening toothpastes are readily available. They contain mild abrasives that can remove surface stains. These products differ from the bleaches in that they don&#;t change the color of your teeth. They only help remove stains on the surface of your teeth.
The most inexpensive mode of whitening teeth, whitening toothpastes and rinses are easy to use &#; since you simply switch out the toothpaste for your normal toothpaste. Toothpastes and rinses, however, take longer to have an effect and only whiten your teeth by one or two shades. The results also don&#;t last as long as some other teeth whitening methods.
Typically, teeth that are yellow will bleach well, brown colors much less so, and gray or purple tones may not respond at all. There may also be a lack of response to whitening agents if your discoloration is a product of medications or a tooth injury.
Also, if you have crowns, fillings, caps or veneers, they will not react to whitening.
The most common side-effect of the use of whitening products is tooth sensitivity. This happens when the whitening agent penetrates the enamel and irritates the nerve of the tooth. The effect is short-term, and you can try the application again once the effect wears off.
Remember to follow label directions or consult with your dentist on the use of at-home products, as overuse can damage your gums or tooth enamel.
We always suggest talking to your dentist before starting the teeth whitening process. Your dentist will be able to advise you if the process is worthwhile given the specific condition (and coloration) of your teeth.
If you have any questions or need further information, please contact us at (425) 822-.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website peroxide free whitening strips.