Nothing Enhances a Tan Like a Bright, White Smile!

Now that summertime is finally here and the sun is out for good (well, a majority of the time ;) ), everyone is busting out their bikinis and board shorts and hitting the poolside chairs for that long awaited tan. And if there’s anything we’ve learned over the past years as your dentists, nothing accentuates a tan more than a beautiful, white smile.

As you probably already know, there are a few ways you can go about getting your teeth whitened. There is in-office whitening, take home whitening and at home whitening. Each has their perks, and, like all good things in life, each has their drawbacks. Today we are going to briefly run through each of your options, and review the good and bad of each.

Professional Whitening:

Professional whitening is exactly what it sounds like; it’s an in-office procedure that can be completed in just one office visit. This process only requires 1-2 hours of your time, and consists of us applying hydrogen peroxide directly to your teeth. While some people may find it difficult to carve out 2 hours from their busy schedules, the results are well worth it. You can expect your smile to look anywhere from 2-8 shades whiter than before, and for the results to last from 1 to several years.

While you may be thinking right about now, “Where do I sign up?”, I should mention that in-office whitening costs in the ballpark of $650. And, depending on the coloration of your teeth, may require you to continue the process at home with take-home whitening trays.

Dentist-Administered Whitening Trays:

Dentist-administered whitening trays are a great way to enhance in-office whitening, but they’re also a great whitening agent in and of themselves—though, by utilizing just trays, you can expect the results to take a bit longer than those of professional treatments. However, take-home trays tend to provide better results than in-office whitening only because you must wear them consistently over an extended period of time, and that kind of consistency can only mean exceptional results.

Some people are skeptical about whitening trays because they’re rumored to be “uncomfortable” and “ill-fitting.” Well, the thing about dentist-administered trays is that they’re custom-fitted. During your first visit, we have a mold made of your teeth. We then send out that mold to have a set of trays made just for you and, when your order is in, we call you back into our office and have you try them on you to make sure they fit. If any tweaks need to be made, we make them during that appointment.

With take home trays, you also get prescribed whitening gel, which you squeeze right into the trays. You must wear them for a few hours each day (or night) for up to two weeks. We recommend you don’t skip any treatments. If you adhere to the instructions to the t, you should expect your teeth to look 2-8 shades whiter within the month.

The upfront cost of whitening trays isn’t cheap – they typically run in the $400 range. However, once a set is made for you, you’ll only have to buy the whitening gel – and once a year at that – as the results are expected to last that long. Depending on your diet and lifestyle, this could end up being far cheaper in the long run than spending $650 a year on in-office treatments.

While dentist-administered trays may seem like the ideal option right about now, we must warn you: if you have sensitive teeth, this is not the solution for you, as continuous bleaching does cause increased sensitivity.

Over-the-Counter Solutions:

Most people utilize over the counter solutions mainly because they’re so inexpensive. Depending on the brand you go with and the style, over-the-counter solutions will cost you anywhere rom $17 to $55. Keep in mind though: you get what you pay for.

Over-the-counter solutions aren’t for people who want to see drastic results, but rather, for people who already have pretty white teeth and just want to enhance their brightness. Furthermore, these solutions take much more time to achieve the desired results than professional and take-home treatments, as the bleach concentration is far lower than dentist-prescribed solutions.

Our Suggestion:

While we strongly suggest getting your teeth professionally whitened, if it’s just not something you can do right now, at home methods are the next best thing. However, if you are going to do your own whitening at home, there are a couple of things you should know so that you can whiten your teeth in the safest possible manner…

1.    If you aren’t careful, the bleach from whitening kits can cause gum irritation and tooth sensitivity.

2.    To reduce sensitivity, select a product that has a bleach concentration of less than 10%.

3.    To reduce gum irritation, choose a whitening strip that fits securely to your teeth.

4.    Whitening toothpaste is a viable option, so if you have time – and if your teeth aren’t badly stained – we’d recommend using this first.

5.    Always read the instructions before you use a product.

Tooth whitening, if not done properly, can lead to gum disease and even tooth loss, so be sure to follow the above instructions if you’re going to go about it on your own.

That being said, if you’re interested in having your teeth whitened in the most professional in effective way possible, visit http://www.lakeshorefamilydentist.com/library/71/TeethWhitening.html to see how we can best serve you.