You can be pretty sure that at least 10 moms from your kid’s class have had it. And the teeth whitening ads that you see everywhere are very tempting.
All of your favorite stars have done it.
The only thing that’s holding you back is the fact that you’re not sure if you need it or that you understand what whitening entails.
To help you make the right decision, we’ve created a list of everything you need to understand about teeth whitening.
What is Teeth Whitening and What is it For?
As its name entails, it is the process of making the teeth white.
There are basically two ways to whiten teeth, broken down in the industry as:
(a) In office whitening, and
(b) At home whitening.
With proper professional guidance, both treatments are equally effective. They only vary in the duration of time it takes for them to take effect.
Regular, home teeth whitening kits come in different forms: gels, kinds of toothpaste, and sometimes even strips.
Most of these bleaching agents are peroxide-based.
Tubes of toothpaste, of course, are over-the-counter (except for the special kind that you can get from your dental care professional) and take the longest time to show results.
Weak brands also have minimal results. Aside from tubes of toothpaste, tray-based whiteners are another common method. Trays are custom-tailored by your dentist.
What are the risks and side effects?
A mold is set to create a mouth-guard like a tray that shall hold the whitening gel in place. It should be worn for several hours.
Depending on the severity of the teeth discoloration as well as the efficacy of the bleaching agent, the results can be seen after about 4 weeks.
In-office teeth whitening, on the other hand, means going into the dentist’s office for the actual treatment.
Unlike home kits, treatments done at the dentist’s office are often done in one session. That is, of course, depending on the degree of teeth discoloration.
The whitening bleach is applied directly to the surface of the teeth and subjected to some degree of heat (from a lamp or laser device). In about half an hour to an hour into the treatment, results can already be seen.
When done with the dentist’s supervision, teeth whitening both in the office and at home is generally safe.
The main and perhaps only side effect of teeth whitening is a certain degree of sensitivity immediately after treatment.
Both treatments are not recommended for people who are:
- Pregnant
- Have irreversible teeth staining
- We Have permanently damaged teeth
- San Diego Dentist Have severe teeth sensitivity
How long does teeth whitening treatment last?
Like anything else, teeth whitening is not permanent.
People who frequently drink coffee, tea, red wine, and smoke often experience discoloration again.
Poor maintenance and infrequent dental checkups can also affect the color of the teeth. It is also not something that you can do again and again.
At best, it will make your teeth look unrealistically white, worst, it can thin out the enamel of the teeth which can lead to brittleness.
For high-quality teeth whitening in San Diego and Chula Vista, head on over to Irresistible Smiles! Our Zoom Teeth Whitening system is as effective as it is quick. Contact us today at (858) 755-8993 in San Diego or (619) 656-6785 in Chula Vista to set up an appointment!