Your Invisalign® ProviderYou're aiming for a white, bright smile. But what is the best teeth whitening option for you at Toothworks? Our Ontario dentists explain teeth whitening options and the effects they may have.
What is teeth whitening?
This cosmetic dental procedure is designed to lighten the colour of your teeth with peroxide-based bleaching agents. Oxygen acts on the tooth enamel as the active ingredient breaks down. This process creates the whitening effect.
What are my options for teeth whitening?
There are numerous options for whitening your teeth out there today. It may be difficult to choose the right one since each has its advantages and can offer positive results. Like with any other procedure, there are also disadvantages to each.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
Your dentist can perform effective teeth whitening procedures in a dental office. This is because the whitening agents in the gel your dentist uses are much stronger and produce much more effective results than over-the-counter products.
This procedure typically takes about an hour. Your dentist will use a concentrated whitening solution to remove surface stains from your teeth and lighten their natural colour. This leads to somewhat more efficient results than at-home whitening solutions, which take days or weeks to work.
At-Home Professional Teeth Whitening Trays
Your dentist would supervise the take-home teeth whitening process. A dental impression will be created during an initial visit to your dentist, then your whitening trays will be made.
You'll take the whitening trays home and manage the teeth whitening application yourself. The whitening gel should be worn for between 30 minutes to a few hours each day, for 1 to 3 weeks depending on your dentist's prescription.
Surface stains will gradually be removed from your teeth with the whitening solution. the natural colour will also become lighter.
Toothpastes
Whitening toothpastes work to remove surface stains and slightly whiten your teeth. However, keep in mind that whitening toothpastes will not affect the natural colour of your teeth, and they will be unable to lighten stains that have penetrated below the tooth’s surface.
Enamel strengthening toothpastes can help to defend your teeth from cavities and protect your enamel from further damage, which can prevent stains from developing in the first place.
Whitening Strips
These small plastic strips are coated with peroxide-based gel. When you apply the strip to your teeth, the peroxide coating removes surface stains, lightening the colour of your teeth.
You would typically apply whitening strips daily for a 2- to 3-week period, and keep them on for no more than 30 minutes at a time. Because these products contain only a small amount of peroxide, you will usually see only subtle results.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are razor-thin strips of porcelain that are affixed to the fronts of your teeth to improve their colour, shape and symmetry.
If only one or a few of your teeth are discoloured, porcelain veneers may be a practical solution to even out the colour of your teeth.
How do I know which are the best teeth whitening products?
The best teeth whitening products for you will depend on a number of factors, from personal preference to the time you have available in your schedule, and your budget. You may want to consider looking up teeth whitening reviews online for tips and ideas from other people who have opted to take the professional and/or at-home route.