At-Home Teeth Whitening Solutions… Is It A Good Idea

Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic procedure that can help you achieve a brighter, more confident smile. While there are professional teeth whitening treatments available at the dentist’s office, there are also a variety of at-home solutions that can help whiten your teeth.

Over-The-Counter Whitening Kits

One popular at-home teeth whitening method is the use of over-the-counter whitening kits. These kits come with a bleaching gel and a mouth tray that you fill with the gel and then place over your teeth. The active ingredient in the gel, usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide,  infiltrates the outer shell of the tooth and breaks down the stains in the sublayer of the tooth. . While these kits can be effective, they may take longer to produce results and can cause tooth sensitivity in some people.

Whitening Strips

Another at-home teeth whitening option is the use of whitening strips. These thin, flexible strips are coated with a bleaching agent and are worn on your teeth for a certain amount of time each day. Like whitening kits, they can take longer to produce results and can cause tooth sensitivity. They can also cause damage to the gums if the strip is placed on the gums, if this is the case for you, we recommend trimming the strip in that area.

Whitening Toothpaste

Whitening toothpaste is another option for at-home teeth whitening. These toothpastes contain mild abrasives that help to remove surface stains but do not actually whiten the tooth. We do not recommend this whitening toothpaste because the abrasive particles in the paste can be damaging to the tooth.

LED Whitening Devices

One newer at-home teeth whitening option is the use of LED teeth whitening devices. These devices use a mouth tray and a whitening gel, similar to whitening kits, but also include a LED light that is supposed to help speed up the whitening process. While these devices may produce faster results, they can also be expensive and may not be as effective as other methods. 

While at-home teeth whitening solutions can be convenient and less expensive than professional treatments, they may not produce the same level of results. If you are looking for a more dramatic transformation or have severe staining, it may be best to visit a dentist for professional teeth whitening services that won’t take longer than one hour.

At Broadway Smiles, we offer professional teeth whitening treatments that can help you achieve a brighter, more confident smile. If you are interested in improving the appearance of your teeth, we encourage you to book an appointment with us to learn more about our teeth whitening services.