Teeth Whitening at Home, What Actually Works?
Teeth whitening treatments have evolved over the years to meet the demands of individuals seeking less intrusive procedures and longer lasting results. As a result, there are a number of different over-the-counter home whitening kits and prescription bleaching options available to clients for dental whitening.
Whitening Toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste is effective in the treatment of mild surface stains and in maintaining overall whiteness of teeth after regimented oral care. The majority of whitening toothpastes utilize abrasion to remove plaque and minor extrinsic discoloration. Specific whitening toothpastes containing peroxides for a bleaching often contain a very low-concentration of oxide that is mildly effective. Toothpaste treatments utilizing abrasives to remove plaque seem to be most efficient but in general a whitening toothpaste will only lighten teeth by a shade or two.
Whitening Strips & Paint-On Applicators
While some individuals view whitening strips and paint-on applicators as an effective option, many dentists maintain that the results are often inconsistent and not very user-friendly. Teeth bleaching strips are designed to offer low-concentration, oxidized whitening to the surface of teeth. One of the main drawbacks with bleaching strips is that they are not molded to individual teeth which often results in sporadic whitening.
The paint-on whitening application utilizes a tool, similar to a mini paint brush, to directly apply the whitening agent onto the surface of the teeth. Unfortunately, the bleach solution’s effectiveness is diminished by the dilution from the mouth’s natural saliva.
Teeth Bleaching Trays
Overall, prescription bleaching trays are the most highly effective form of at-home whitening care. This form of whitening utilizes a higher concentration of oxidizing agent on the teeth for improved results. Your dentist makes a mold of your mouth in order to create a custom fitted bleaching tray. This ensures the bleaching solution is able to access to all the recessed areas between your teeth. Over-the-counter trays cannot guarantee full coverage of bleach on individual oral structures. Teeth bleaching trays are available at grocery stores or pharmacies, or through an Austin dental office.