What’s the best way to whiten teeth?

Beautiful, pearly white teeth are something that everyone loves to have. For those of us with dark, dingy or stained teeth, there are a variety of whitening treatments to choose from that can help us have the gleaming smile that we want. With so many whitening options to choose from, how can you be sure that the method you select is the best?

In-office whitening treatments take only about one hour and remove deep setting stain, instantly whitening your teeth by several shades.

The type of whitening you use all depends on your personal needs, expectations, and level of tooth discoloration. For instance, the most dramatic, instant whitening treatment is in-office laser whitening. These whitening treatments take only about one hour and remove deep setting stain, instantly whitening your teeth by several shades. Most people select in-office laser whitening when they have a big event such as a wedding, graduation or job interview. Or, people select laser whitening when they need significant results, but don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to home whitening kits.

Professional home whitening kits use a custom fitted whitening tray made in the dental office. A prescription strength whitening gel is used for at least 30-60 minutes per day, for up to 2 weeks. The final whitening results from professional trays are similar to those seen in office whitening procedures, but they take longer to achieve. Because the whitening trays are made to last for years, you can simply buy refill gel kits every year or so based on how frequently you touch up your whitening.

Over the counter kits are available in an abundant supply, but finding a quality product that works effectively can be a challenge. Many generic whitening trays available at retail stores are made to fit any size of mouth, which can cause the whitening gel to unevenly whiten the teeth or even burn your delicate gum tissues. They can also be Kits that contain strips may be easier to shape around your teeth as an alternative to trays, but because the solutions in over the counter kits are not as strong as those available in the dental office, the results will not be as significant.