A Look at Your Teeth Whitening Options

Very good teeth of a woman
There are many options for teeth whitening near Westlake. Some are great for removing simple surface stains, while others are preferred for deep dental cleaning and teeth bleaching. Dentists offer many of these options, and patients can undergo teeth whitening in the office or take products home. To better learn about your teeth whitening options, continue reading and ask your dentist which is the right choice for you and your teeth.

Bleaching Strips

Bleaching strips are a popular method of teeth whitening because they are easier to use than whitening gels. The strips are very thin and transparent, making them almost invisible over the teeth. They contain a coating of a peroxide-based whitening solution. Bleaching strips are typically worn for about 30 minutes at a time and should not impede your speech.

Whitening Trays

Teeth whitening trays can be provided by your dentist or found in a drugstore. The trays, which look similar to mouth guards, are filled with an accompanying whitening gel that your teeth will sit-in over a period of time. Depending on the power of the solution, you may only need a few treatments over a couple of days or several treatments over a month-long period. Your dentist can help determine the exact amount of treatments you will need.

Take-Home Treatments

Whether you have a teeth whitening session in the office, or your dentist sends you home with a treatment, you will still receive the same benefits. Dentists will often send take-home treatments for patients with tooth sensitivity. The treatments should have the same results, but they may be taken over a longer amount of time to account for gentler teeth whitening chemicals.

Whitening Toothpastes

Though all toothpastes can help remove some surface stains, there are specific teeth whitening toothpastes. These contain certain chemicals and abrasives that polish the teeth and remove mild surface stains. Whitening toothpastes typically contain a peroxide-based solution that will aid in lightening the teeth by about one shade.