Teeth Whitening? Why You Should See the Dentist If You Want to Make Real Progress

While your teeth may seem to be very tough on the outside, they are actually made up of thousands of individual pores that you can only see under a microscope. This means that they are susceptible to decay and deterioration, and this can affect the natural colour of the tooth itself. You may be well aware of this phenomenon and have decided that you want to do something about it, but you're not sure if you should simply buy an over-the-counter treatment or visit your dentist instead. What is the best and most cost-effective method for you?

The Professional Approach

If this problem has been building up for some time, you may not get the desired end result from products that you buy over the counter. However, you can still treat the issue at home after getting a specially designed solution from your dentist.

Seeing the Dentist

To enable this process, you should book a consultation and arrange for the dentist to prepare your teeth before you start. Typically, you will need to have any restorations improved so that they do not affect your end result and will have to schedule a scaling and cleaning visit as well.

Making Preparations

Next, the dentist will measure your mouth using a special mould so that a technician can design the bleaching tray to fit over your teeth very precisely. Once these have arrived, the dentist will also provide you with a solution made from carbamide peroxide, which will come in individual syringes for you to take home. You should keep these in a fridge when they're not in use, but after you have opened one then you can keep it at room temperature, to make it easier to accommodate.

The Process

Only place a certain amount of the solution within the tray and as advised by your dentist before carefully putting it over the teeth in question for the allocated amount of time. Once ready, remove the tray slowly and use a cotton ball to clean any excess that may have found its way onto your gums or surrounding areas. This will help to avoid any discomfort after the procedure.

Make sure that you clean the bleaching tray with ordinary product and a toothbrush so that it is ready for use the next day.

Avoid This

Try to avoid eating any foods that have staining capability, such as beetroot, until you have successfully finished the treatment. You should also avoid smoking during this time and for several hours after the bleaching.

Monitoring Progress

Your dentist will also schedule an appointment for you after a few days of home treatment to see how you are getting on. They may recommend that you adjust the process so that you keep on track with your initial goals and will also schedule further appointments so that they can help you as necessary.

Learn more about take-home bleaching treatments from your local dentist.