Throughout recorded history, people have tried many different ways to whiten their teeth, and not all of them were safe and effective. In previous centuries, whitening methods would often deteriorate the patient’s enamel, making their teeth more vulnerable to infection and injury. Today, many people turn to the teeth whitening products they find at stores or pharmacies to achieve a brighter smile, but are they safe? Here’s why professional teeth whitening treatments are the best way to go.
What’s Wrong with Store-Bought Teeth Whitening Kits?
The teeth whitening kits you can find at the store typically come with a tube of over-the-counter whitening gel and a set of one-size-fits-all dental trays. Instructions tell the user to apply the gel over the trays and wear them for certain periods of time.
While using these products may deliver some of the desired results, they can be quite inconsistent. The consumer-grade whitening gel in these kits may not be powerful enough to adequately lift stains and bleach the enamel. The one-size dental trays can also cause problems by inadequately covering larger teeth, resulting in uneven whitening, or extending too far over the gums, resulting in injuries by exposing the soft tissues to the whitening agent.
How Are Professional Teeth Whitening Treatments Superior?
When you get a professional teeth whitening treatment, you are also getting the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your teeth are being treated by a qualified dentist. These treatments can leave your teeth up to eight shades whiter, and they come in two forms:
- In-office procedure: If you want your teeth whitened quickly, this is probably the way to go. After placing barriers in your mouth to protect your soft tissues, your dentist will treat your teeth with a few coats of concentrated whitening agent. The whole process takes about an hour or two.
- Take-home kits: These kits from your dentist are a lot like the store-bought variety except that they don’t have the same problems. They come with a tube of professional-grade whitening gel and a set of dental trays customized to fit your teeth. You’ll only have to place some gel inside the trays and wear them for an hour every day for two weeks.
Don’t trust the beauty of your smile to a store-bought product with a higher risk of injury due to poor manufacturing or user error. Consulting with your dentist can determine if professional teeth whitening can be a good course of treatment for you.
About the Practice
Carlson Dental Group delivers general services and specialist-level care from two locations in Jacksonville, FL. Led by Drs. Khoi Le and Edward Murray, the staff treats each patient with the utmost courtesy and compassion while maintaining a clean and welcoming office environment. Areas of expertise include preventive, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry such as teeth whitening treatments. To learn more about professional teeth whitening, contact the office online or dial (904) 262-8449.