When dental braces come off, most people want to whiten their teeth
. After all, they now have straight teeth; why not make the smile even more dazzling? But with so many products on the market today, it can be difficult to know which one to choose. And should you go to the dentist to have it done or do it yourself? This depends on how much money you are willing to spend to get that dazzling white smile.
Whitening procedures done at the dentist office can cost hundreds of dollars. But "do it yourself" teeth whitening kits are a fraction of that cost. Both deliver great results. It all comes down to what you can afford and what your prefer.
The main ingredient in almost all whitening kits is Peroxide. Carbamide Peroxide is bleach that whitens the teeth. So doesn"t that make all teeth whitening kits work the same? Not exactly. The strength of peroxide is what matters most. Some kits contain 10% carbamide peroxide and others contain twice as much. If you choose the stronger concentration of peroxide, your teeth may be extremely sensitive for a couple weeks. So look for a product that contains around 15% of the ingredient. This will help prevent a lot of discomfort but will still deliver amazing results. Make sure you follow the instructions on the kit. If it says to leave the solution on your teeth for a couple hours, don"t leave it on all day thinking that your teeth will become even whiter. You will just be setting yourself up for more tooth sensitivity.
Almost all teeth whitening kits (with the exception of whitestrips) come with a bleaching tray. This is where the solution goes. Then you pop the tray into your mouth. Putting the solution directly on your teeth without using a tray is not an effective way to bleach your teeth. Your saliva will just wash the solution away and you risk having the solution touch your gums which is not fun as it can cause some burning. The tray will help the solution stay on your teeth where it is suppose to be. It also acts as a barrier so you will not have to worry about saliva washing away the peroxide solution.
Don"t use teeth whitening kits every day. Your teeth will not become whiter and you will only be risking more side effects. A few times a year should be enough to keep your teeth looking great all year round. If you have questions or concerns about teeth whitening, talk to your dentist.