Which Teeth Whitening Options are Right for Me?
So you’ve decided you want to try to make your teeth a little bit whiter. Perhaps you smoke or use other tobacco products, drink a lot of coffee, or just want to restore the pearly luster your teeth had when you were younger. You know you want whiter teeth, but you’re just not sure how to go about achieving that shiny smile. What are your teeth whitening options? The tooth-whitening section at your local drug store can be confusing, with pastes, gels, trays, and strips. Today, Austin dentist Dr. Helen Ragsdale explains some of the at-home whitening technologies, in addition to the whitening services she offers in her Austin dental office.
Whitening Strips and Gels
Whitening strips and gels are similar, as both are peroxide based. The gels usually come in a small bottle, and the gel is painted on the teeth with an applicator or small brush. You can generally expect to see results within a few days and those results can last up to four months. Whitening strips are thin, clear sheets that are coated with peroxide-based gel. The results are similar to paint-on whitening gels.
Whitening Toothpastes
Toothpastes in general remove some surface stains because they contain abrasives. Whitening toothpastes often contain polishing or chemical agents that can supplement the stain removal process.
Whitening Trays
Tray-based whitening systems are available both over the counter and from your dentist. To use these, a patient fills the mouthguard-like trays with a peroxide agent to bleach the teeth. The mouthguard is left in the mouth for a specific time period each day, for a week or longer, depending on the level of staining and desired degree of whitening.
Laser Whitening
Dr. Ragsdale offers the fastest way to achieve a beautiful smile. Laser whitening with Dr. Ragsdale is safe, effective, and immediate. The treatment lasts about 45 minutes, and only 24 of those minutes involve use of the laser. The treatment is gentle and can brighten your smile by as many as nine shades. Patients will also receive top and bottom bleaching trays for at-home touchups.
Schedule a Consultation
The best way to know which whitening agent would be best for you is to speak with Dr. Ragsdale. To schedule an appointment with Austin’s gentle laser dentist, contact our office at (512) 346-4690.
