Everything You Need To Know About Teeth Whitening

Everyone wants a whiter smile.  Regardless of who you are or what shape your teeth are in right now, a nice set of pearly whites are universally attractive and a sign of good oral health.

And when it comes to getting your teeth looking nice and sparkly, there’s no shortage of products on the shelf to choose from - from toothpastes, to pens, to take-home trays, the options are endless.

But while you may tempted to simply slap on the first thing you find at your local drug store, it’s important to point out that not all of these products are created equal. 

In fact, not only are many of them not effective, they can be outright harmful if used incorrectly.

Here’s everything you need to know about teeth whitening and how to get a more pleasing smile.

Whitening Toothpastes

The first product on our list are whitening toothpastes. These are probably the most common, and can be found in the dental section of almost any drugstore or pharmacy.

Unfortunately, while the manufacturers may make bold claims about their efficacy, there’s very little evidence that these products do much. You may notice a slight change, as these toothpastes can remove surface stains. 

However, when it comes to changing the color of the actual tooth or removing deep stains, these toothpastes simply don’t live up to the hype. In order to change the appearance of the actual tooth, you’re going to need a product that goes beyond surface stains and actually addresses the root cause of discoloration.

Over-The-Counter Whiteners

Over-the-counter whitening systems usually come in the form of trays, strips and pens.  Like whitening toothpastes, the options are endless. There are countless products on the shelves from countless manufacturers, and they all promise the same thing - a dramatic change in the appearance of your teeth.

Over-the-counter products usually fall into one of two categories. The first is surface whiteners. These are in the same category as whitening toothpastes, and only address the minor surface level stains.

The second are bleaches, often coming in the form of take-home tray systems.

Of the two options, bleaches are by far the more effective for getting rid of deeper stains. 

However, they’re also the option that can cause the most complications. Bleaching is serious business, and if you are going to use one of these products, be sure to do so under the supervision of a dental clinic in West Edmonton to make sure you’re not causing any long-term damage to your teeth.

In-Clinic Teeth Whiteners

By going with a professional whitening solution at a dental clinic near you, you get the best of both worlds. Not only is teeth whitening at our West Edmonton dental clinic an effective way to whiten and significantly improve the appearance of your teeth, it’s also safe, customizable and conducted under the supervision of a dentist. Any issues or discomfort can be dealt with on the spot, and you can rest easy knowing that the procedure is safe and effective

Teeth whitening usually requires two visits. The first involves taking an impression of your teeth. This is used to create a custom tray that perfectly fits your mouth (important for making sure that your the whitening process is conducted thoroughly and properly).

During your second visit, the fit of the tray will be double checked, and you’ll be given your special whitening solution. his can either be used twice a day or throughout the night over the course of several weeks, and (if used consistently) can dramatically change the appearance and color of your smile.