We are all likely to want whiter teeth, especially when special occasions are in the near future. Our smiles should be one of our best qualities when a million pictures are snapped on all sides. And when it comes to teeth whitening, you have two overall options: over-the-counter products you’d buy at the local store or professional teeth whitening performed by your local dentist in Bellevue, NE.
How Teeth Whitening Works
Most teeth whitening products work in one of two manners. The first is physical, through abrasive cleaning that removes stains but can be destructive for tooth enamel.
The second is via a bleaching gel containing hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. These substances work when in contact with your teeth for a certain time period. The various chemical reactions break up stains so that they appear less prevalent.
The Many Store-bought Teeth Whitening Options
When browsing the oral care aisle, the first thing you may notice is that many products claim to have whitening power. Here are a few examples:
- Whitening toothpaste – These products usually contain abrasives and aren’t recommended due to their impact on tooth enamel.
- Whitening rinses – While an antiseptic mouth rinse has good cleaning properties, a whitening rinse is not in contact with your teeth long enough to make substantial changes. This rinse, though, could help prevent new staining.
- Whitening strips or trays – These are probably the most effective store-bought products, but they have drawbacks: generic trays don’t fit your teeth that well, causing uneven whitening gel coverage, possibly resulting in spotting or other color variations.
Professional-Grade Whitening Treatments
Your dentists at Kennedy Dental may offer several options for teeth whitening similar to over-the-counter versions, but with several advantages. First, your dentist is a medical professional who can provide instruction and supervision during the process. Second, your dentist may also personalize your treatment based on your specific hopes.
Teeth Whitening at Our Bellevue Dentist Office
For noticeable whitening in about an hour, we recommend our in-office whitening treatment. We will monitor the procedure, ensuring your teeth whitening is safe and effective. Patients have been known to see a six-shade brightening after a single treatment.
Custom Take-Home Trays
If you’d like professional results which you can do in the comfort of your own home, we do provide take-home bleaching trays. We take impressions of your teeth and create trays that fit your unique mouth to ensure a great fit. This holds the bleaching agent on your teeth and away from your gums and other tissues more likely to be irritated. Then you may whiten when you like with the security that your dentist is behind your treatment each step of the way.
Schedule Teeth Whitening in Bellevue, NE!
Though your local store may be packed with new teeth whitening products, if you want professional results, you should take advantage of our professional teeth whitening at Kennedy Dental. To learn more about your options to get whiter teeth, give Kennedy Dental a call at (402) 291-3535 to schedule an appointment.