Choosing the Best Teeth Whitening Method for You - Roots on Whyte Dental (2024)

Choosing the Best Teeth Whitening Method for You - Roots on Whyte Dental (1)

Modern dentistry has seen many improvements including cosmetic treatments to improve the look of your smile. One of the most popular requests for cosmetic improvements is teeth whitening. There are many options available, whether you have mild staining which can be addressed with whitening treatments, or your staining is severe and you require something more permanent such as veneers. Here is an overview of the treatments available from over the counter home treatments to cosmetic dental treatments we offer at the office.

How Teeth Whitening Works

Although there are different teeth whitening methods available, they all have one thing in common: each one uses a whitening agent to penetrate your tooth enamel to remove the molecules that are causing the discolouration. The stains are in the dentin and therefore the whitening process has to reach below the enamel to extract the discolouration. The stains are usually caused by the following:

  • Beverages such as coffee, tea, red wine, and dark sodas
  • Dark vegetables
  • Smoking
  • Aging

The Benefits of Whitening

It’s obvious that whiter teeth are more appealing when you smile. However, there are other benefits, including:

  • You will want to smile more which is proven to help improve your mood
  • Increased confidence
  • A better first impression
  • More people smiling at you because you are smiling more
  • A more youthful appearance
  • The confidence to pursue success in your career
  • Better selfies
  • An increased interest in dental hygiene to preserve your whiter smile

Consider Budget

Not everyone has a dental plan that will cover cosmetic dentistry. If you are considering teeth whitening it is important to consider your budget. You can speak to your dentist to get an idea of how severe your staining is, to see if you can start by trying over the counter methods if cost is an issue. If your budget is not an issue, then you can get an estimate from our team and they will even submit the request to your insurance company to see if it is covered.

Over the Counter Whitening

Over the counter (OTC) simply means you can purchase the whitening products at your local drug store. They range from toothpastes to trays and strips that allow you to whiten your teeth at home. Here is an overview of the OTC products available:

  • Whitening Toothpaste: This is the easiest and least expensive method, but is not effective for deeper, darker stains. It’s ideal for maintaining a white smile and can also help to brighten mild discolourations.
  • Paint­-on Teeth Whitening: As the name implies, this is a whitening agent usually in gel form that is applied using a brush. It is less expensive than strips or trays but is also not as effective. It can also be difficult to apply evenly which can lead to striping and an uneven look to your teeth. It has a more dramatic effect than toothpaste but has to be applied carefully to avoid uneven colouring.
  • Whitening Strips: This is the most popular OTC whitening method. It uses a small amount of hydrogen peroxide applied to strips that you place over your teeth for 30 minutes. It gets good results relatively quickly and can be done as part of your regular morning or bedtime routine. Again, consistency can be a problem if you are not applying the strips evenly.
  • One-Size Whitening Trays: Whitening trays often come in kits and contain the whitening agent. They are placed over your teeth for a period of time like strips and can get dramatic results. However, because the trays are generic in size and shape you can again run into consistency issues with the whitening.

Dental Office Options

Our office can also assist with professional whitening services. Dental office whitening treatments also use sensitivity products to help reduce the sensitivity many people have after whitening. Here are some of the most common whitening treatments available at dental offices:

  • Customized Whitening Trays: Customized whitening trays offer a more effective and precise whitening system as the trays are customized to fit your teeth and mouth perfectly. This allows for a more even application. The trays are also used at home, so treatment is convenient. As well, professional whitening agents contain more of the active ingredients required to remove stains. The peroxide-based compound provides far more dramatic results than any OTC product.
  • Zoom: This whitening procedure takes longer and is performed at the dental office. Each session can be as long as an hour and the number of sessions required depends on the severity of your staining. The system uses a whitening gel in hand with a “lamp” which speeds up the gel’s whitening effects. After the session, a sensitivity-reducing treatment is applied.
  • Composite Veneers: This cosmetic treatment is used only in cases when the stains are so severe, “bleaching” will not work. Veneers provide a “cover” for the fronts of your teeth. The veneers are customized to match the look of your teeth and uses a colour that looks natural suiting the brightness you desire. They can also be used to hide other imperfections, so they can kill two birds with one stone.

When Whitening is NOT Advised

Not everyone should consider whitening using bleaching methods. There are a number of reasons the treatments should not be used, including:

  • Sensitivity: If you suffer from sensitivity the agents used tend to worsen this issue.
  • Deep Stains: If your staining is too deep, they will be resistant to whitening agents. In this case, we will recommend veneers.
  • Aging: Some older patients might have the same issues as those with deep stains and veneers will be recommended instead of whitening agents.
  • Dental Work: If you have dental work, the whitening process will not work. You can choose veneers to replace your dental work to brighten your smile.
  • Pregnancy: Whitening should wait until your baby is born and you have finished breastfeeding.
  • Over-Whitening: If you have been over-whitening your teeth it can cause enamel erosion. If you feel your teeth are not white enough despite several whitening treatments at home or at the office, we will discuss your options.

Maintaining your White Smile

Once you’ve achieved the level of whiteness you wanted, you can follow some basics to keep your smile white, including:

  • Avoid the food and drink that will stain your teeth
  • Brush and floss regularly
  • Use a toothpaste with whitening agents
  • Book your regular dental checkups and cleanings

If you are interested in learning more about our dental office whitening treatments, contact us here or call us at 888-602-2308 to book a free consultation.

Choosing the Best Teeth Whitening Method for You - Roots on Whyte Dental (2024)

FAQs

What is the most effective teeth whitening method? ›

Option #1: In-Office Laser Whitening

This is one of the popular teeth whitening methods that some people believe is the most effective way to get a brighter smile. Using lasers and peroxide-based whitening agents in a professional setting, this teeth whitening method provides dramatic, lasting results.

How to choose the right teeth whitening treatment for you? ›

If you want powerful results, a professional teeth whitening treatment by your dentist is the best way to go. Your dentist has access to bleaching materials that are stronger than those available over-the-counter. This results in superior outcomes for your smile.

Which whitening is used to lighten an Endodontically treated tooth? ›

Book a consultation now. Internal bleaching is a technique that is used to whiten the appearance of endodontically treated teeth.

What is the new technology for teeth whitening? ›

What Is The Newest Dental Technology? Laser teeth whitening technology is one of the latest advancements in dental technology. While laser teeth whitening is safe, it may come with a few side effects. Side effects can include sensitivity, gum irritation, or damage.

What teeth whitening is least damaging? ›

At-Home Custom Tray Whitening

For the safest and most effective at-home teeth whitening method, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) recommends you use custom-fitted trays supplied by your dentist.

How to whiten teeth over 60? ›

Swap your regular toothpaste for whitening toothpaste, and you can notice your teeth gradually lighten with prolonged use. Whitening toothpaste typically contains a low-concentrated bleach solution. This helps minimize the appearance of stains on your smile.

What is the fastest most efficient way to whiten teeth? ›

Zoom in office whitening

Zoom-in-office whitening is the best teeth whitening system out there. It is fast (takes about an hour) and you get great results. This is the one you have probably seen before where the patients are under that blue light and it turns your teeth up to four shades of whiter.

What is the strongest teeth whitening percentage? ›

The American Dental Association has recommended a maximum of 10 percent for teeth whitening. Gels that are available for at-home trays have a concentration of 22 percent. The maximum that can be used is 35 percent, which is approximately what you will find at the dentist's office.

Should teeth whitening only be done by a dentist? ›

Unqualified Whitening is a Health Hazard

While your esthetician may claim to be qualified in teeth whitening, the procedure is actually banned from being performed outside of a dentist's office in most states.

Can tooth roots be whitened? ›

Additionally, since the whitening procedures do not work on tooth roots without enamel, people with gum recession should not opt for teeth whitening before getting their gum recession treated.

Can you whiten the roots of teeth? ›

Sometimes bacteria, blood, or saliva remain inside the tooth after a root canal procedure. As the bacteria break down, discoloration develops. In this case, internal bleaching is the only option. Basically, internal bleaching is a procedure that targets discoloration from the inside out.

Does teeth whitening work on root canals? ›

In a word yes! It involves a technique known as internal bleaching. In essence the process involves inserting a bleaching agent into the cavity of the discoloured tooth. This is normally a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and sodium perborate.

What teeth whitening do the Kardashians use? ›

Kim Kardashian turns her teeth temporarily purple as she promotes the V34 Colour Corrector Serum from the brand HiSmile.

What do celebrities use to get their teeth so white? ›

If you see celebrities with perfectly white, straight, and uniform-looking teeth, they likely have veneers. Unlike teeth whitening, veneers are more permanent. There are various types of materials used, but porcelain and composite are the most common types.

What do celebrities use for white teeth? ›

Veneers are another common celebrity teeth whitening procedure. Veneers are thin tooth-colored shells or coatings placed on the front of a tooth to hide stains and make them sparkling white. A veneer contains tooth-colored materials like composite and porcelain.

Can yellow teeth become white again? ›

What Can Be Done to Whiten Yellow Teeth? If you're looking for a radical change in the coloring of your teeth, you need professional-grade whitening to get the job done. Your cosmetic dentist can provide treatment that penetrates deep into the enamel and removes years of stains with a powerful bleaching agent.

What method do dentists use to whiten teeth? ›

Tooth whitening is most often done using peroxide-based bleaching agents. At-home systems contain from 3% to 20% peroxide (carbamide or hydrogen peroxides). In-office systems contain from 15% to 43% peroxide. Generally, the stronger the solution and the longer you keep it on your teeth, the whiter your teeth become.

Can old yellow teeth be whitened? ›

Dentistry for seniors suggests tooth whitening can be done at any age of adulthood. Tooth whitening products remove built-up stains and brighten the enamel. They are affordable and easy-to-use solutions to the problem of aging yellow teeth.

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