There are many patients who want dazzling smile but turn down the idea of teeth whitening wondering whether it’s worthy or not. Over time, professional teeth whitening treatment becomes very popular as several products are there to obtain the desirable teeth shade. Prior to flow your hard-earned money in this check what involves the procedure and if it is right or not from this blog.
What’s teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening refers to the procedure which lighten the colour of the teeth. The teeth of most people are not pearly white and they have a slightly grey or yellow tint. This will discolour with time because of several factors like:
- Aging
- Degraded oral hygiene
- Medications resulting in discolouration
- Having stain-inducing foods and drinks
- Smoking
- Drinking red wine, tea and coffee
These drinks and foods result in stain as they have pigments. It attaches easily to enamel of the teeth. Whitening treatment breaks down the pigments making the teeth whiter and brighter.
It uses the following methods to whiten the teeth:
Professional treatments
You can undergo in-office or professional whitening treatment at the dental clinic. Dentist makes use of potential bleaching agent mainly carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide.
But not every patient is suitable for the procedure as concentrated bleaching agent can lead to discomfort and pain by increasing the sensitivity. Even, you need to treat the gum disease before performing the whitening treatment. Consult with the dentist as only they can determine the most suitable option for you.
At-home kits
You can get at-home whitening kits from the dentist. It includes bleaching strips or gel to apply on the teeth as per the mentioned instructions.
Natural remedies
You can make use of common kitchen ingredients such as lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda for whitening the teeth naturally. Although it works on surface stains yet is less efficient than professional whitening treatment.
No doubt, that teeth whitening boosts confidence level. But is it worth of time and money?
Is teeth whitening worthy?
The answer to this question relies on budget and goals of the treatment. In case, you want dramatic and fast results then professional teeth whitening treatment is the most suitable option. At-home whitening kits can be your companion when you are on tight budget and want to try on something different.
Despite the chosen method, you must understand and know about potential side effects and risks of the whitening treatment beforehand. By weighing pros and cons of the available options you can make most appropriate decision.
Benefits of professional teeth whitening
Highly effective
In-office teeth whitening treatment is highly effective over at-home treatments. It is because of the use of strong and concentrated bleaching agent than OTC products. Only licensed dentist can make use of concentrated bleaching agent making the in-office treatment highly successful.
Moreover, dentist can customise the in-office treatment according to your requirements. On assessing the teeth colour they will determine and address the underlying problems first as they can impact the treatment results.
Fast
In case you want instant results, then professional teeth whitening is the best option. It just takes an hour to finish and you can notice the difference after the first session.
At-home whitening kits can deliver better results too but you need to use it for several months or weeks in a row to notice the change.
Safe
Professional teeth whitening is completely safe if any experienced professional performs it. Dentist takes additional measures for protecting gums and other soft tissues in mouth from bleaching agent. Also they will ensure that you are free from any underlying oral issue which makes the treatment risky.
How long teeth whitening result will last?
In general, professional teeth whitening impact will last for 3 long years. But it depends on a number of factors and your lifestyle is the key of them. Moreover, people with naturally dark-coloured teeth can experience fast fading away of the outcome.
Also many patients begin to notice dullness in just 3-4 months of professional whitening treatment. It can happen because of improper care and hygiene along with poor lifestyle. Furthermore, bad habits like having tea or coffee and smoking can induce staining again after the treatment. In fact, one must control the consumption of acidic and sugary drinks and foods.
These are sufficient to erode down the enamel making it susceptible to discolouration and stains. When it is about at-home whitening kits, these cannot parallel to professional treatments. It will only about to last for a few weeks only before they start fading out again.
What is the cost of professional teeth whitening?
The cost of professional teeth whitening relies on treatment type you choose and the clinic you are going to visit. In-office treatment is comparatively expensive but giving instant results at the same time.
Consult with your dentist to know the price of in-office professional teeth whitening and select the brand too. Only they can give best deals and accurate cost of the treatment depending on the degree of stains and discolouration you have.
Drinks and foods to cut off for long lasting whitening results
Several foods and beverages can stain or discolour your teeth. To retain the whiteness of the teeth you need to avoid the following consumable items:
- Dark chocolate
- Balsamic sugar
- Soy sauce
- Beets
- Berries
- Curries
- Tomato sauce
- Soda
- Wine
- Tea
- Coffee
Although there is no need to cut these off completely yet you can have them occasionally. But initially for the first few weeks of professional teeth whitening treatment avoid them completely. It enables the teeth for adjusting with bleaching agent to maintain the whiteness in longer haul.
Conclusion
Teeth whitening procedure is highly effective as you can get it done from an experienced cosmetic dentist. Although it cannot deliver permanent result yet you can have them for long 3 years with proper oral health care and hygiene. However, you need to visit the dentist for follow-ups.
It is definitely worth both money and time to regain lost pearly white smile and self-esteem. Book your appointment for enlighten teeth whitening in London to start your journey of a dazzling smile.