Posts Tagged ‘Phoenix Cosmetic Dentist’

Phoenix Cosmetic Dentistry Find Out About Over-the-Counter Teeth Whitening?

Monday, May 31st, 2010

A popular form of treatment for severe stains and discolorations on your teeth is in over-the-counter teeth whitening products. Many people prefer this type of product because it is convenient and quite inexpensive compared to other dental treatments.  It is still essential to understand more about over-the-counter teeth whitening products so that you can feel comfortable and see the greatest results in whitening your teeth.

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Now, let’s take a quick peek at a few functional tips.

Common over-the-counter teeth whitening products are toothpastes, strips, or trays.  Many of these commercial products will give you great results, although often times, they are only temporary because they use light abrasion.  This is the method that a whitening toothpaste will use through lightening ingredients to remove surface discoloration on the teeth.  All of the ingredients will only clean the surface of the teeth, and you do need to be careful when using them since they could abrade and cause damage to the outer layer of the teeth.

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The ingredient commonly used within these over-the-counter products is hydrogen peroxide, which may not offer you results if your teeth are severely stained. If any of the products are used improperly, it could also cause sensitivity in your teeth.  That is why it is important to consult with your dentist about any products that you use to make sure that they are safe.

Another alternative if you don’t want to use commercial products is to use a kit provided by your dentist.  Even though this is a more expensive option, many people prefer it because it is more affordable than an in-office dental whitening treatment. This treatment will often offer more accurate results since your dentist will make an impression of your teeth to create a tray for your mouth. This entire treatment at home could take up to two weeks, and normally, your dentist will record the shade of your teeth so that you can see your overall whitening results.

It is also ideal to make an appointment with your dentist so that he can show you how to use these at-home products to see the greatest whitening results. These products will normally be used one hour per day for two weeks at a time with further touch up applications, which will help to achieve the greatest results in the long run from your whitening treatments.  Other alternatives could include wearing the take-home product overnight to whiten your teeth.

If you use these at-home whitening treatments properly, you can see amazing results.  Overall, an at-home kit provided by your dentist will normally offer better results than a commercially sold whitening product. It is always important to practice good hygiene habits on a daily basis when using these products, such as brushing and flossing regularly. This will guarantee that you will have a beautiful and sparkling smile from your use of over-the-counter whitening products!