How To Get Teeth Whitening With A Rockville MD Family Cosmetic Dental Office

By Alicia Murphy


Our teeth tend to yellow with time and age. This can be made worse if you smoke or if you drink a lot of coffee or dark colored soda. Teeth whitening solutions are designed to restore teeth as close as possible to their original, natural white. This can, in turn, increase confidence and self-esteem.

Over the counter whitening products have varying issues. Whitening toothpaste is so normal now that it can almost be hard to get toothpaste without "whitening" ingredients. However, these toothpastes only remove very light surface stains. They can only lighten your teeth by about one shade - although they may also help slow yellowing over time by removing stains before they get deep into the tooth.

Experts believe that whitening mouthwashes are less effective due to them being in contact with the teeth for such a short amount of time.

Some additional over the counter whitening options include strips and gels. These usually contain either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. Strips are applied directly to the teeth while gels are applied using a small brush. There are also tray-based whitening systems that can be purchased over the counter or even from your local dentist.

Over the counter systems also have downsides such as the one size fits all approach and the heavy reliance on the person correctly using them, which can cause them to be less effective if they are not. Some permanent damage and irritation can also occur. Which can end up costing far more than the savings of using an over the counter whitening system.

Some people should not whiten their teeth. Children under 16 should not use (or need) whitening products. If you are pregnant or lactating you should wait until after you have weaned the baby. People with sensitive teeth should talk to their dentist first, because the whitening system can cause irritation. Any cavities or gum issues should be treated before whitening, as it can make cavities worse. Also, the whitening materials will not affect fillings, crowns, etc - which can result in uneven whitening that actually makes your teeth look worse.

Over the counter whitening solutions can be intimidating and talking to your dentist can help. While in-office solutions may cost more, you are less likely to encounter issues since they are properly supervised.

If stains are severe, your dentist may suggest crowns or porcelain veneers. You may also be able to purchase customized trays that are made from impressions of your own teeth. These trays can reduce the risk of tooth and gum damage.




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