Your smile isn’t as white and bright as you’d like, and, understandably, you want to change this. You could try to eliminate dental staining using a DIY method, or you could visit a qualified professional like your cosmetic dentist in Juno Beach.
One good reason to choose your dentist is that it’s much safer! Here’s what you should know about DIY vs. professional teeth whitening.
DIY Teeth Whitening
There are almost as many DIY teeth whitening methods as there are stars in the sky. The common theme between them is that they involve abrasive materials or aren’t properly personalized. For example:
Gels & Toothpaste
Unless they have the ADA (American Dental Association) seal of approval, chances are the ingredients are abrasive enough to wear down your enamel, which will ultimately make it easier for your teeth to stain.
Strips & Trays
Strips and trays that are provided over the counter haven’t been customized to fit your unique smile. As a result, the whitening agents could come into harmful contact with your gum tissue and cause damage or irritation.
Activated Charcoal
There’s no scientific evidence to support that activated charcoal actually whitens teeth. In addition to being very abrasive, activated charcoal can stain your countertops and sinks.
Lemon Juice
Like other citrus fruit, lemons are highly acidic. They’re acidic enough, in fact, to wear down your enamel.
Baking Soda & Hydrogen Peroxide
Though both of these substances are in many approved over-the-counter products and your dentist’s professional whitening agents, the concentration can be the difference between a safe whitening session and an unsafe one. There’s a chance you could accidently use too much product and harm your teeth.
Professional Teeth Whitening
There are two main ways your cosmetic dentist can whiten your teeth, though both use special whitening agents. Your dentist will also carefully plan your treatment to make sure it’s safe and comfortable for your unique smile. For example, they can modify the concentration of the whitening agents to make them gentler on sensitive teeth.
In-Office
For an in-office whitening treatment, your dentist will apply the whitening agents themselves, using a special oral appliance to protect your gums and a light to “cure” the agents. The entire process typically only takes an hour.
Take-Home Kits
Alternatively, your dentist can provide you with a customized take-home whitening kit. The kit will include trays designed to fit your smile without touching your gums, and detailed instructions for applying the whitening agents to the trays. After wearing them twice per day for two weeks, your smile will be several shades brighter.
At the end of the day, a whitening treatment that’s overseen by a qualified professional is much safer for your smile than an unregulated DIY method. Trust your dentist to brighten your smile, and they’ll make sure your treatment is both safe and effective!
About the Practice
Dr. Greg Riley and Dr. Duane Keuning are both members of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. They have extensive experience when it comes to enhancing a patient’s smile through dental cosmetics like teeth whitening. To schedule a safe, effective, professional teeth whitening session, contact Dr. Riley and Dr. Keuning’s office at 561-622-7243.