A nice smile gives you confidence to do many things and it helps you to warm up to other people. Teeth whitening procedures give you an opportunity to get whiter and brighter teeth for a brighter smile. There are bleaching procedures as well as cosmetic restorative procedures that can give you the ideal opportunity for a brighter smile. Whitening procedures have been undertaken for more than one hundred years. The whitening options include:

In-office Bleaching

This procedure is undertaken in a dental clinic and it can be performed in less than an hours time. The procedure is slightly expensive compared to other methods. Nevertheless, the results are immediate and long-lasting, hence being a worthy choice.

Teeth Whitening Strips

The whitening strips are available in many drug stores. They are sold over-the-counter and they are fairly inexpensive and easy to use. Teeth whitening strips take longer to generate the desired results. However, it depends on the peroxide level contained in the strips. Make sure you consult a professional before using them to avoid damaging your teeth.

Whitening Toothpaste

Teeth whitening toothpaste consists of a mild abrasive, which can remove, surface stains.  Several whitening toothpastes have extra polishing agents with special chemicals, which are effective against stains compared with regular toothpastes. However, whitening toothpastes are not manufactured to actually bleach the teeth.

Whitening Trays & Gels

Whitening trays & gels are effective. However, the desired result takes longer compared with the in-office bleaching method. The result depends on the peroxide available in the gel. Clear trays are often worn for several hours in a day or overnight. This could take from 3 days to several weeks before the results are noticed.

There are two types of whitening trays & gels those which are bought over the counter and those bought from the dentist.

Whitening kits purchased from the dentist office generate a faster effect because they contain stronger amounts of peroxide bleaching agents compared with the kits bought over the counter. Another benefit advanced by the dentist trays and gels is that they are custom designed to fit the teeth. Over the counter trays & gels are generic in size. Therefore, they may cause the bleaching agent to affect your gum, causing irritation.

Teeth Whitening Products

New whitening products are being introduced in the market including mouthwashes, dental floss and chewing gums. Nevertheless, these products are new hence research has not been performed to prove or disapprove their effectiveness as whitening products.

Call your South Tampa Dentist, Marnie Bauer DMD, for all of your dental needs – 813.839.2273