When selecting whether to whiten your teeth at home or at the dentist, it’s crucial to weigh the pros and downsides of each option. While at-home teeth whitening is less expensive than professional teeth whitening, the outcomes of the latter are significantly superior and involve far less risk than what you can get with over-the-counter or at-home procedures.

You may choose to get your teeth professionally whitened if you want to add a little additional glitter to your teeth beyond what regular daily brushing and routine dental cleanings can provide. Unlike everyday brushing and teeth cleanings, which remove plaque and discoloration from the tooth’s surface, professional whitening penetrates the tooth from the inside, where age and medication-related discoloration arise. As a result, the main advantage of in-office whitening over routine dental maintenance and over-the-counter solutions is that it produces a considerable color change in a short amount of time.

Here’s what to expect if you decide to have your teeth whitened.

• Gums and lips are protected to prepare your mouth.
• For 15-20 minutes, an unique light is focused on the teeth to assist in activating the bleaching gel.
• The bleaching gel application and light therapy are then repeated two more times making it a total treatment period of about an hour.

Your teeth are most likely to whiten by two to eight shades following treatment, however, expect the new color to take a few days to appear. Depending on whether or not you have reached your desired hue, you may be advised to return for a second session or to purchase a supplemental treatment which you can do at home.

Despite the fact that teeth whitening is a very safe technique, there are some adverse effects to be aware of.

Sensitivity. Bleaching can sometimes cause pressure, temperature, and touch sensitivity. Maybe even shooting pains. The pain normally lasts a day or two, but it can last for up to a month. Irritation of the gums.

When the whitening solution gets on the gums, this is a common occurrence. Teeth in Technicolor If you’ve had dental work done, such as veneers, fillings, crowns, or other operations, it’s crucial to know that the dental material used in these procedures is unaffected by bleaching agents. When the surrounding teeth are whitened, it will stay the same color. Professional teeth whitening is normally recommended prior to dental work in lieu of this.

Teeth whitening effects are not permanent since teeth are often discolored by coffee and other beverages, and yellowing is a natural part of the aging process. You can expect the effects of professional teeth whitening to last anywhere between one and five years in most cases. The best approach to keep your results is to practice good dental hygiene at home, including brushing, flossing, and mouthwash rinsing, as well as avoiding staining foods, drinks, and smoke.

If you fall into one or more of the following categories, whitening may not be an option for you. Extremely sensitive teeth, gums are receding, experience sensitivity to your gums, missing teeth, your fillings, crowns, veneers, implants, bridges, inlays, and onlays are all visible, are under the age of eighteen, or if you’re expecting a child or are breastfeeding. It’s best to get a consultation and then make an informed decision regarding a teeth whitening procedure.