Would you love to have a brighter smile? Then you have two options for teeth whitening:in-office teethbleaching or at-home care.

These two options for teeth bleaching use peroxide-based bleaching agents.At-home based whitening systems contain 3% to 20% peroxide (either carbamide or hydrogen peroxide). The in-office bleaching system contains 15% to 43% peroxide.

The general rule of thumb while whitening your teeth is that the longer you keep a stronger solution on your teeth, the more your teeth become white.However, solutions with a higher percentage of peroxide should be kept only for a short time on the teeth. This is because keeping the gel for a longer time will make your teeth dehydrate and become more sensitive.

These two options have their ups and downsides, but you need to talk to your dentist before using an at-home tooth bleaching kit.Everyone is not assured of a good result, and bleaching cannot work on composite bonding, veneers, and porcelain crowns.

In-office teeth whitening

You can get a quicker whitening result by getting your teeth whitening done by a dentist. The bleach solution used for this procedure is usually more potent than those for at-homekits. This procedure also uses light or heat or a combination of both to intensify andspeed up the process.

In-house teeth whitening usually gives dramatic results as the teeth becomeeight shades brighter.

This whitening usually takes several 30- to 60-minute in-office appointments, and some dentists employ techniques that can be done in a 2-hour visit. An example of this is the Zoom system.

Thecost of in-office teeth whitening varies. It ranges from £150 to £700.

At-home teeth bleaching options

When it comes to bleaching your teeth at home, you havenumerous options; most of these options are available in pharmacies and online. They include:

• Teeth whitening gels and strips:You will use the thin strip or a brush to apply the gel directly to your teeth. Apply these peroxide-based bleaching products at least once or twice daily for 10 to 14 days.The result only lasts for at least four months.
• Tray-based teeth whitening systems: This teeth whitening option uses a tray-like mouthguard filled with a peroxide-based paste or bleaching gel and worn over the teeth for one or more hours of the day. The treatment usually lasts for up to 4 weeks. You can find this tray-based tooth whitening system over-the-counter or get a custom-fitted tray from the dentist.
• Teeth whitening toothpaste: Teeth whitening toothpaste is mildly abrasive, and because of this,it can remove stains from your teeth.This toothpaste also contains polishing agents and chemicals thatscrub stains from the teeth without the help of a bleaching agent. Teeth whitening toothpaste is the least expensive and can only brighten the teeth by about one shade. Thoughsome kinds of tooth whitening toothpaste contain peroxides, they cannot stay on the teeth long enough to provide the best whitening effect.

How to keep your teeth white with tooth bleaching

It does not matter whether you whiten your teeth with in-office teeth whitening or at-home whitening kits; you can make your results last longer by flossing, rinsing, and brushing daily. You should also avoid tannin-rich and acidic food and beverages like:

• White and red wine
• Black teas and coffees
• Sports drinks
• Berries and other foods with intense colours
• Carbonated beverages like dark and light coloured sodas
• Soy, curries, and tomato sauces

 Why do you need to talk to your dentist about teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening can temporarily cause teeth sensitivity which may be very uncomfortable for people sensitive teeth. When teeth whitening kits are misused, they can lead to burned or temporarily bleached gums.

Teeth whitening treatment is most suitable for people with yellow teeth and is less effective on brown teeth. Teeth bleaching may not even work for you if you have grey or purple teeth.

So, before spending your time and money on teeth whitening, talk to your dentist so that they can help you figure out the most suitable teeth whitening option. Also, your dentist will recommend the best over-the-counter tooth whitening kits to prevent you from wasting your money onthose that are not effective.

For more information on teeth whitening and bleaching, contact our practice for more details.