At home teeth whitening options
There is an array of different products for “teeth whitening at home“. They are sold on the internet or off the cosmetic shelf and the effect is somewhere between acceptable and non-existent.
The difference between the home products lies in the strength of the bleach and how it is applied on the teeth.
The easier it sounds, the worse it works
To expose the teeth to the whitening peroxide it is mixed into different “carriers” such as mouth wash, tooth paste, strips that are stuck to the teeth, application pens, varnish or gel that is placed the trays.
In order to minimise the risk of damage home products for teeth whitening (home bleaching) contain a relatively low concentration of peroxide. This makes it necessary to use the product under a longer period and one cannot expect as powerful and lasting results as with a professional teeth whitening treatment.
The limited strength of home products makes it possible to rule out achieving any visible results from exposing the teeth for a short period of time, as with tooth paste or mouth wash.
Whitening trays work the best
The home teeth whitening (home bleaching) products that provide the best result are whitening trays that are shaped, filled with whitening gel and then worn for 60-90 minutes a day for a minimum of two weeks. The cost is approximately £35 for one treatment.
Those that have undergone treatment experience difficulties shaping the trays and knowing how much gel to use. If too much gel is used then it is often smeared across the gums which can cause discomfort. The package often also contains another gel to be used if the gums become irritated, which is often the case.
One must be aware of the time it takes since the tray is to be on either jaw for at least 30 minutes. Since a lot of saliva is produced one cannot count on wearing the trays on both the upper and lower jaw simultaneously which would halve the time.
The right patient can expect some whitening effect which lasts for 6-12 months.
Whitening strips and varnishes are simple but not effective
One of the easiest ways to expose the teeth to bleach is to glue a tape like strip across the teeth of the upper and lower jaw. The treatment is repeated for 30 minutes twice a day for a week. The cost is approx. £35 and the result is limited lasting for no more than a year.
Another easy method for teeth whitening is to use a pen or small brush and brush the teeth with a whitening varnish. The effect is limited.
Whitening toothpastes will not give you a notisable result but can over time help keep your smile as white as it already is. However teeth whitening toothpastes are good to use after you have undergone a teeth whitening procedure to keep surface stains from building up on your teeth.
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