At-home Teeth Whitening

There are two main methods of teeth whitening. Dentists use bleaching gel containing higher concentrations of oxidizers. On the other hand, at-home teeth bleaching products contain low-concentrations of active agents. High-concentration bleaching is effective when compared to the latter. However, at-home bleaching is the cheaper option.

At-home teeth whitening products can be purchased online or at dental stores.  These are much more cost-effective than the in-clinic procedure. Teeth whitening is done by applying the gel to the teeth using plastic trays. The gel is allowed to stay in contact with the teeth for about 20 minutes. The trays are then removed and the procedure is repeated two more times.

At-home teeth whitening products do not produce equivalent results to dental bleaching performed by a dentist. This is mainly because they contain lower concentrations of the bleaching agent. The mouth guard has to be placed over the teeth for several hours a day for about 10 days for results to be visible. At-home dental bleaching products contain around 10% hydrogen peroxide. Because of the lower concentrations of the bleaching agent, irritation to the tissues of the gums is rare.

One of the main advantages of at-home teeth whitening products is that they are much cheaper. You also can perform it anytime according to your convenience.  You need not schedule appointments with your dentist. However, the results may not be so effective. One way to improve the efficiency is to use custom fitting whitening trays. These greatly improve the results achieved with an over-the-counter teeth whitening product.

Teeth whitening is not without side effects . Commonly observed side effects include irritation of the soft tissues of the mouth and increased tooth sensitivity. The later may be observed during the early stages of the bleaching treatment. Both these side effects usually disappear within 1 to 3 days after the treatment is completed.

At-home teeth whitening products are available online at much cheaper prices when compared to dental stores. However, exercise caution before purchasing them. Not all products available online are genuine. Some products may be of an inferior quality which can have serious side effects. For this reason, always choose well known brands. Also read reviews and user-feedback before making the purchase. It is always a good idea to talk to your dentist for a product recommendation.