Holiday festivities are upon us once again and we all want to look our best, whether it’s for gatherings with friends or those annual family photos. This is understandable, considering that studies continue to show that whiter teeth and a brighter smile can actually make you appear healthier and younger.
For this very reason, the winter holiday season and the New Year is one of the most popular times of the year that people buy teeth whitening products.
If you, too, want to put more sparkle into your smile, you may find yourself scanning the many DIY teeth whitening products at your local drug store. Each brand claims to give you the whitest and brightest teeth, but how do you know which products really work and which are a waste of your time and money? Here are some of Dr. Wes’s insider teeth whitening tips to consider:
DIY At Home Vs. In A Dentist’s Office—What’s In It?
If you want whiter teeth, there are two main paths you can take—trying DIY products you can buy over-the-counter and apply at home, or having your dentist apply in-office treatments. The biggest difference between these two choices is that in-home whitening gels have a less concentrated level of the active ingredient carbamide peroxide that is also in many in-office treatments.
The reason over-the-counter DIY products have less carbamide peroxide is that it can damage soft tissues in your mouth—namely your gums—and it’s very hard to avoid getting the products on your gums when you’re applying it at home.
Because they are manufactured to be gentle enough for you to use at home with less risk of damaging your gums, these DIY whitening products also require more applications to be effective. Directions often advise you to use the products repeatedly over the course of days or weeks depending on the brand you’re using and the results you hope to achieve.
While at-home treatments can be effective to an extent and aren’t typically dangerous, it’s helpful to know 3 things:
- Certain products may not work on the type of permanent discoloration you have on your teeth.
- It’s possible to damage your gums even if you’re using a product with a low concentration of peroxide if you apply the whitening gel incorrectly or too frequently.
- You may experience uncomfortable tooth sensitivity based on how the chemicals in the teeth whitening products interact with your teeth.
Dentist In-Office Whitening—What’s The Difference?
The biggest difference with having your teeth whitened in a dentist’s office is in the results. Because dentists have a wider range of professional-grade products they are able to target specific staining based on what caused the discolorations, such as tobacco use, coffee or wine, aging, genetics, or even certain medications.
Professional whitening options can tackle these stains much more effectively than over-the-counter DIY whitening products can, helping you regain whiter teeth more quickly and safely.
At My Family Dentistry, our most effective solution for removing stains and whitening teeth is KöR Deep Bleaching.
The KöR whitening system was developed by a dentist to help teeth naturally absorb oxygen deep into the tooth, dissolving the food, drink, and chemical molecules that cause staining–even difficult to budge stains that other products don’t have an effect on.
Unlike most forms of bleaching, KöR results in little to no sensitivity, and is completely safe for your gums and teeth. The KöR System results in healthy, natural looking white teeth without that “day-glo” fake-white effect.
The KöR whitening process starts with making impressions of your teeth so that custom-made trays can deliver the whitening gel most effectively. After using the custom trays and whitening gel at home overnight for a period of time, an in-office session applies a final concentration of bleach. Your healthy, bright smile can be maintained with touch-ups at home once a month or so.
Time To Put The Sparkle Back In Your Smile?
My Family Dentistry can get you started with KöR Deep Bleaching, or another option is the Opalescence Tooth Whitening System kit, which we sell in our office. You can take it home and apply the product easily yourself.
Beyond KöR Deep Bleaching and Opalescence, My Family Dentistry also offers a range of other whitening options, including composite bonding and veneers. Dr. Mullins would be happy to discuss all treatments with you to find the option that best fits your desired results and your budget.
My Family Dentistry is dedicated to providing the safest and most effective options so that you can keep your teeth looking their best, not only during the holiday season but for years to come.
If you’re ready to take the next step in achieving a brighter, more confident smile, contact us to discuss all of our options and to set up a consultation with Dr. Mullins!
Give us a call at (865) 947-6453 to learn more, or schedule an appointment online.
My Family Dentistry is located at 7714 Conner Road in Powell. We are honored to be voted a top “Favorite” dental practice by the Knoxville News Sentinel’s BEST BUSINESSES contest in 2019. To learn more about what makes My Family Dentistry different from other dental practices, read Why Our First Patient & Her Family Are Still Our Patients—And Always Plan To Be.