How should I whiten my teeth at home?
When you look in the mirror what color are your teeth white, yellow, or Brown? You may or may not be aware, that overtime teeth naturally become darker and stained In addition, to natural aging there are some other factors like cigarette smoking, in certain types of foods and drinks such as coffee and tea also darken your teeth.
Cost Ranges for Teeth Whitening
- At-Home Whitening Kits: Typically range from $20 to $100, depending on the brand and concentration of the whitening agent.
- Professional In-Office Whitening: Costs can vary widely but generally fall between $300 and $1,000, often providing faster and more noticeable results.
Local Tips for Teeth Whitening
- Consult with a local dentist to assess your teeth and gums before starting any whitening regimen to ensure it's safe for you.
- Look for local promotions or discounts offered by dental offices for professional whitening services.
- Consider joining a dental plan that may offer reduced rates on cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How long do the results of teeth whitening last?
- The results can last anywhere from several months to a few years, depending on your oral hygiene habits and lifestyle choices.
- Are there any side effects to teeth whitening?
- Some people may experience tooth sensitivity or gum irritation, which usually subsides after the treatment ends.
- Can anyone whiten their teeth?
- Teeth whitening is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women, children under 16, or individuals with gum disease or worn enamel. Always consult with a dentist before proceeding.
Some prescription and over-the-counter drugs can have the same effect as well, a bright white smile can be achieved by bleaching your teeth. Home whitening involves wearing a custom fit mouth tray that contains a concentrated hydrogen peroxide gel, which will bleach your teeth to A brighter whiter smile. So how does it work? During the first visit, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth, after making sure your teeth are free of plaque and tartar from this impression a custom mouth tray is made specifically for your mouth.
On your second visit, your dentist will show you how to apply the gel to the tray and place it into your mouth, as well as tell you the amount of time you must wear your mouthguard. The amount of time depends on how badly your teeth are stained, as well as the concentration of the gel used. It can vary from a few minutes to a few hours, as an example, many brands are applied twice a day for one to 2 hours, over a time period of two weeks. Home whitening can last anywhere from a few months to a few years and the degree of whitening changes from one person to another. This in part, depends on the original condition of your teeth specifically how stained they were as well as the strength of the bleaching gel used also. In large part, it depends on your eating, drinking, and smoking habits as no teeth whitening solution will result in a permanent color change of your teeth, and it won’t prevent future staining.
There are some minor risks associated with home whitening, the most common side effect is tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity is generally mild and will subside most of the time once the treatment is completed. If you feel severe sensitivity, you should wear a mouth tray for shorter periods of time or consider stopping treatment entirely. Brushing your teeth with a highly concentrated fluoride toothpaste, or desensitizing toothpaste such as Sensodyne, will also help to reduce the discomfort. Your dentist can also prescribe a fluoride gel that can be used in your bleaching tray, which also should help reduce the sensitivity. gum irritation. or discoloration of the gum is another possible side effect of the home whitening procedure, this is mainly due to over loading the mouth tray. Simply stopping the process for a few days should help your gums feel and look normal again.
