Have you thought about improving the quality of your smile with teeth whitening? If so, then perhaps you should consider using one of the following three methods.
Who doesn't want a whiter smile? Our teeth go through a lot of damage throughout the day that most people don't even think about. Between coffee, soda, and tea, there is a lot of damage. There are plenty of products to choose from when it comes to whitening your teeth. However, most whitening products use chemicals to bleach your teeth, which concerns many people. Don't fret! We have some ways to naturally give you the smile you have always wanted!
Whitening at The Dentist's Office
Using a strong peroxide formula might sound like it would be harmful to your tooth's enamel, but actually, the less time that it takes to whiten your teeth, the shorter of a period of time the solution would need to stay applied. In other words, less time on the enamel means that your enamel will be safer.
If you go to the dentist for professional whitening, then you can expect the procedure to take up to an hour. The gel and the laser light that's typically used is applied in 15-20 minute intervals. While you'll realize the best results by going to a dentist, it's not the least expensive option. Typically, a professional tooth bleaching can cost $500, and up.
The actual cost of the procedure will depend upon your specific dentist, the region of the country you live in, and any other expenses that could be incurred. But again, if you want to experience the best results, and if you want things done right the first time, then getting the procedure done in the dentist's chair is the way to go.
Prescribed Tooth Whitening Trays
If you can't afford the cost of getting your teeth whitened at the dentist's office, or if your dental insurance won't provide coverage for the procedure, then you'll still have other options at your disposal. The next option that you'll have is one that dentists often prescribe to patients who can't sit in the chair, but they'd still love to experience great bleaching results.
This involves the dentist prescribing the use of teeth whitening trays. The trays are relatively easy to use, although your dentist or the dental assistant will teach you how to use the kit. The kit comes with mouth trays that are designed to hold the peroxide gel in place over your teeth.
It's important to protect the gel from becoming diluted with saliva or by the movement of your lips and tongue. As mentioned, you'll still have a peroxide gel applied to your teeth, but the concentration of the peroxide will be lower than the concentration that the dentist is trained and licensed to use inside of their office.
After you are instructed on how to properly use the kit, you'll take it home, and then you'll use it by following directions. You might find yourself wearing the trays for at least an hour, and in some cases, you'll wear the trays overnight. But don't worry about wearing peroxide gel on the tooth's enamel overnight. You'll be using a peroxide concentrate level that's safe enough for the instructed length of time you'll be wearing the trays.
The typical cost of the take-home tray kit runs between $100 on the low end, and $400 on the higher end. Again, this is the best solution for you if your dental insurance won't cover the cost of getting the procedure done in the dentist's office.
Tooth-Brightening Kits Found at Drugstores
If booking an appointment for an in-office bleaching is out of your budget, and if you're still not able to afford to buy a professional bleaching kit from your dentist, then there's another relatively safe option for you to consider. You can purchase over-the-counter kits that are commonly found in drugstores.
You've seen commercials and advertisements for these types of kits: They include strips, polishes, gels, and gel pens. Their use is simple and pretty straightforward. You can go to the store and buy the kit, all without a prescription or an appointment. After buying your kit, you'll take it home, and closely follow the enclosed instructions.
The peroxide concentrations that are usually included in these type of kits is pretty low. Remember you don't need a prescription to buy these, so the manufacturers are legally required to make sure that you and your mouth will be safe from harm when you apply this on your own.
That said, you can expect to spend anywhere from $15 for a simple strip kit, up to $100 for a more advanced at-home kit that might contain a handheld laser light wand, along with low-concentration peroxide gel. Since the gel included in these kits are of low concentration, you might have to use the kit repeatedly to get the results you're hoping for.
You might also find that your individual results might vary from the example being advertised on the kit's packaging. While drugstore kits aren't the most aggressive in getting your teeth to look whiter, they are a highly affordable option that will at least lift the shade of your enamel a few shades brighter.
It's Available, but You May Not Want To Try This One
One more option of note for getting your teeth to look white involves going to your local shopping mall, but not to see a dentist. That's right - there are often kiosks or small shops that advertise tooth bleaching services. You'll see people dressed up in white overcoats, similarly to what a dentist would wear. But note that these aren't dentists or even medical professionals in most cases!
These are retail clerks who are posing as health professionals so that they can apply a gel of some sort on your teeth, while holding a whitening laser light. First of all, you can buy a very similar kit at the drugstore, without paying an inflated price. But most importantly, you have no idea of what they're putting inside of your mouth.
Even more frightening, the person poking around your mouth isn't licensed to do so. This means that they have no training regarding the prevention of germs, or cross-contamination. And, these are often fly-by-night operations.
With all of this said, the charge for this service often starts at around $50, for one hour.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.
