Home v. Professional Teeth Whitening

How many of you have friends who whiten their teeth in an app before posting photos on social media? What about people who constantly worry that their teeth are not as bright as the people in commercials? In this day and age, a lot of people are worried about how bright their smiles are. With so many products and solutions on the market, it’s good to know the differences in options and their effects when it comes to home versus professional teeth whitening.

This one is pretty straightforward. You simply swish the rinse around in your mouth for a bit and spit it out. Since this method only comes in contact with your teeth for a few seconds, it provides a very gradual whitening effect to your teeth.

These toothpastes work by removing surface stains from your teeth. With gentle brushing and consistent use, they can whiten your teeth over time. However, if you brush too hard or used these products too often, you can begin to wear away at your enamel and develop tooth sensitivity.

These are usually worn on your teeth one time a day for up to two hours. Depending on the brand, you may have to wear these for anywhere between 10 to 20 days to see real effects.

These provide a quick way to whiten your teeth. However, since store-bought trays are not fit to your teeth, they may cause irritation to your gums. If that occurs, you should stop using them and see your dentist.

The most common professional teeth whitening treatment is using bleaching trays. Your dentist makes custom molds that are specific to fit your teeth and provides you with a whitening solution for quicker results than store-bought treatments.

If you need your teeth white in a hurry, Zoom! Whitening is your best bet. This in-office procedure can whiten your teeth up to eight shades in a single sitting. Your dentist will use whitening trays with a professional-grade solution and a UV light to get your teeth much whiter than they were to begin with.

The kind of whitening treatment you use will depend on how healthy your teeth and gums are. The best way to determine which treatment is best for you is by talking to your dentist. The team at Ronald Murphy Dentistry treats each of our patients with a gentle, personalized care to ensure that everyone walks out of our office with a healthier, brighter smile. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 630-879-7642.