At-Home Teeth Whitening made easy
Teeth Whitening made easy
Step 1 – Things to know before getting started
Professional teeth whitening is so expensive, that it’s more than tempting to drop your hard-earned money on a teeth whitening system to use at home. Before you fall into temptation, though, there are a few things to consider.
Perhaps the most important thing to know is that most at-home teeth whitening solutions can cause teeth sensitivity and gum irritation. For this reason, if you have sensitive teeth, it is best to talk to your dentist before investing in any teeth whitening product.
It is also ideal to see your dentist for treating any cavities and clean your teeth professionally before getting started, or the results could be mediocre.
Last but not least, remember that all bleaching products are unable to whiten caps, crowns, and veneers.
Step 2 – Choosing the right whitening product
With the above in mind, it’s now time to choose the right whitening product. Options vary from strips to pens to gel and tray systems.
Whitening strips are by far the more comfortable to use and a good option for beginners. Apply the strip to your teeth and hold it for the amount of time indicated on the package – typically anywhere between 5 and 30 minutes. On the downside, the strips only whiten the front of your teeth. They usually don’t reach in all the nooks and crannies between your teeth.
Whitening pens work in a fashion similar to the whitening strips. They are cheaper, but also harder to use. The main difficulty is keeping the bleaching film in place for as long as necessary. There is no strip or tray to help with it. It is also easier to apply the bleaching agent to your gums or lips by mistake, and this often leads to irritation.
Gel and tray systems are the most effective. They are more expensive than the other two options, but the tray allows the bleaching product to reach all sides – as well as the nooks and crannies – of your teeth. Options vary from simple systems that consist of a silicone tray and whitening gel only or advanced systems that use an accelerator light to speed up the process.
According to dentists, your best bets include systems like Snow, AuraGlow, GlowUp, and Mobile White, all of which employ blue LED lights to deliver quick results similar to professional whitening.
Quick results similar to professional whitening
Step 3 – Whitening Frequency
If you’re interested in home teeth whitening, you might know by now that there is virtually no restriction in using whitening agents as frequently as you want. However, this doesn’t mean you can use them every five minutes.
Most products contain either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide as whitening agents, both of which can cause teeth sensitivity and gum irritation. Caution is always necessary; that’s why most brands recommend using their product only once a day.
Depending on each brand, session lengths vary from 10 to 30 minutes. In all cases, it is recommended not to wear the tray for more than half an hour per session.
Step 4 – Learn what to do in case of sensitivity
We already mentioned that all whitening products could cause sensitivity. If you have sensitive teeth, we recommend you talk to your dentist and find a home teeth whitening product that is suitable for you so that you can spare yourself the trial and error phase.
If you don’t have sensitive teeth but notice irritation or pain while using the product, stop using the product immediately. At this stage, either switch to a more gentle formula or pick a product with a different active ingredient.
Some brands, such as GlowUp, develop customized teeth whitening gels formulated for individual sensitivity level and possible allergies. Otherwise, you have plenty of general formulas with different concentration levels to choose from.
If you changed the product and still experience pain or gum irritation, it is advisable to talk to your dentist before trying any other at-home whitening system.
Spare yourself the trial and error phase
Step 5 – Be consistent
Whitening your teeth at home is doable thanks to the innovative systems on the market. The key to success, though, is consistency. Use the whitening product for at least one week before assessing any results, and don’t forget about primary oral care in the meantime.
To whiten your teeth and keep them pearly white, you should avoid the excessive consumption of staining foods such as coffee, red wine, and marinara sauce. Also, avoid smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco, and don’t forget to brush your teeth at least two times a day.
With this in mind, at-home teeth whitening is not only easy, but it can also deliver long-lasting results.
