Want to Skip the Dental Chair? Try These 3 Out-of-the-Office Teeth Whitening Treatments

Dentist Blog

Teeth whitening is one of the most in-demand cosmetic dental treatments available today. The vast majority of people who opt for this type of treatment want to fix their stained or discoloured teeth, while the rest simply want a whiter shade for aesthetic reasons. 

If your pearly whites are still intact, you can retain their natural colour without sitting on the dental chair for professional teeth whitening treatment. Continue reading on below to discover what your best at-home teeth whitening bets are.

1. Whitening Toothpaste

If you want to keep your pearly whites white for many years to come, you should ditch your regular toothpaste for a specially formulated teeth whitening toothpaste. This type of toothpaste usually contains active ingredients, such as calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate or low-doses of hydrogen peroxide, which scrub away any surface stains that may discolour your teeth. 

For whitening toothpastes to work effectively, they have to be used on a regular basis. However, these toothpastes aren't meant to change the colour of your teeth – they simply help to make your teeth look their best.

2. Whitening Strips

Made to take the shape of your teeth, teeth whitening strips work to whiten your teeth. But how do they achieve a whiter, brighter smile? These strips are coated with teeth whitening gel that usually contains a peroxide compound. The gel is applied onto the surface of the teeth when the strips are attached to the teeth. 

Whitening strips should be applied daily over a couple of weeks to see any noticeable results. But they have to be applied carefully to avoid uneven whitening. Areas of your teeth that aren't in full contact with the strip won't be as white as places where optimal contact was achieved. 

3. Brush-on Whiteners

Are you aware that you can whiten your teeth on the go? Thanks to the availability of brush-on teeth whiteners, that's exactly what you can do. Like teeth whitening strips, these pen applicators contain a peroxide-based whitening gel that's painted directly onto the teeth. The tips of the pens are designed to make it easy to keep the gel on the surface of the teeth.

Once the gel has been painted, it solidifies and delivers a whitening effect on the teeth. After some time, it wears off. While the above out-of-office teeth whitening treatments may work well if administered properly, you can always see a cosmetic dentist if you want a whiter-than-white shade. Nothing beats professional treatment!

23 January 2019