Whitening Your Teeth

There are four main types of tooth whitening care including: in-office bleaching, at-home bleaching, store bought whitening products, and whitening toothpastes. Follow the links to see which one seems like the best fit for you.

• In-Office Bleaching
• At-Home Bleaching
• Store Bought Whitening Products
• Whitening Toothpastes

In-Office Bleaching

For in-office bleaching, it is best to first talk to your dentist about the procedure to determine how strong your teeth are and how many visits it could take to reach the desired shade of white. Usually, the procedure takes more than one visit, ranging from 30 minutes to an hour in which the dentist takes protective measures to cover your gums and applies bleach to your teeth in layers. In some cases, a laser is used to increase the effectiveness of the bleaching.

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At-Home Bleaching

Your dentist can give you an at-home bleaching kit for long-term whitening, or you can buy one at a convenience store. Treatments that come from your doctor usually require a mold to be made of your teeth (the expensive part) that the dentist can turn into a mouth guard. Gel whiteners – containing peroxide – are placed in the bottom of the mouth guard, on the lowest teeth imprints.

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Store Bought Whitening Products

Store bought whitening procedures are usually strips with a whitening gel on one side that can be applied to your teeth and left on for 30 minutes to an hour. This process can make your teeth sensitive, so don't leave on the strips for too long or use them more than recommended by your dentist.

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Whitening Toothpastes

Although most toothpastes do have the ability to get rid of stains, there are some approved by the ADA (American Dental Association) that provide a stronger stain removal process. However, this process is not like bleaching, because it does not alter the base color of teeth, and the results aren't as immediate. Using a whitening toothpaste can help keep your teeth white in between other procedures.

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