What Are Teeth Whitening Kits
Belvidere Teeth Whitening is one of the easiest ways to brighten your smile quickly and inexpensively. Over time, our teeth become dull and yellow because of the food we eat and lifestyle habits such as tobacco use. An easy way to think about what is causing your teeth to stain is to consider what you consume that could stain a white T-shirt. If it can stain a white T-shirt, it can stain your teeth.
Age can also lead to doll teeth. As we get older, the enamel begins to thin, allowing the dentin to show through. Dentin is darker than enamel so it can cause a dull appearance. Certain medications can also lead to tooth discoloration.
Patients that have tetracycline staining are not likely to see results by using over-the-counter whitening products but their Dentist may be able to offer a whitening treatment that will work for them. This is one reason that it is so important to speak with your dentist to make sure that you are a good candidate for teeth whitening and that you do not waste your time and money on a product that will not work for you.
Before You Whiten
To make sure that you get the best results possible, have your teeth professionally cleaned by your dental office before beginning a whitening regiment. Your hygienist will be able to remove plaque buildup and surface stains that would be in the way of the whitening solution.
Whitening Your Teeth
There are a number of products available for patients to write in their teeth, either at home or in their dental office. Professional in-office whitening is the quickest way to brighten your teeth but it is more costly than at-home options. In-office whitening provides immediate results and only takes 1 to 2 hours. Professional whitening treatments have a higher concentration of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, 10% to 22%, to give the patient optimal results in a short time.
Over-the-counter whitening kits are available for patients who would prefer to whiten at their leisure. These options contain a percentage of 6% to 14% of peroxide concentration. Most over-the-counter whitening kits come in the form of whitening strips or whitening trays. Whitening strips are a thin plastic material that is coated with the whitening gel solution on one side. The gel side is applied directly onto the teeth and allowed to sit for 30 minutes to an hour every day up to 14 days or until desired results are reached.
Whitening trays work the same way but instead of a plastic strip, a plastic tray with whitening gel in place it’s fixed to the entire arch of teeth and worn for the same amount of time as the strips.
Maintaining Your Whitened Smile
The best way to remove stains on a regular basis is to practice good oral hygiene. Adding oral care products that contain peroxide or baking soda will help remove stains each time you brush.
If you are hoping to proceed with some form of whitening treatment, make sure you speak with your dentist to determine what process will be best for your individual case to give you the best results possible!