Visiting a dentist to whiten your teeth is an easy way to brighten your smile. Whitening can also be accomplished through a take-home treatment option. Using a specialized whitening toothpaste or trying these take-home whitening trays can supplement your regular oral health routine and create bright results. Below are the details of some of these techniques.
What’s the Deal With Whitening Toothpaste?
Teeth whitening toothpaste is not the same as other types of toothpaste. This is because it has a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide. It is an inexpensive and ongoing teeth whitening technique that works but may take weeks or months to produce noticeable results. Also, whitening toothpaste can only remove surface stains. 
What is In-Office Teeth Whitening?
Dr. Walters can perform laser teeth whitening in his office. For this procedure, he will apply bleach to each tooth and use a laser to generate heat to enhance the bleach’s effectiveness and speed up the process. The bleach is a hydrogen peroxide gel that ranges between 25 and 40 percent in levels of concentration. These high concentrations require special precautions to decrease tooth sensitivity and safeguard the gums, lips, and other oral tissues against damage.
Is Take-Home Teeth Whitening for Me?
We can prepare take-home teeth whitening kits for you at our office. Teeth whitening kits have a high concentration of either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. The kit includes custom-fitted dental trays that will ensure the whitening solution remains on the surface of the tooth. The trays also restrict the solution from reaching to the sensitive area of the gum. This method is fairly easy to use and you will see results after a week or two of use.
How About Teeth Bleaching?
The bleaching gel contains a more advanced concentration of peroxide as compared to over-the-counter teeth whitening gels. A significant change in teeth color, in a short period, is the major advantage of this in-office teeth whitening procedure. Involved in this protocol is the carefully-controlled use of a bleaching gel with a fairly high concentration of peroxide. The dental assistant will apply this to the teeth and during the procedure. He or she will use a protective gel to safeguard your gums against chemical exposure, then Dr. Walters will apply the bleaching agent to each tooth.
We will use a special laser to activate the bleaching gel and further highlight the brightness of your smile. This procedure makes your teeth whiter than other techniques and it will last longer as well. The peroxide typically stays on the teeth for approximately 15 and 20 minutes, up to an hour.
Whichever technique you choose to whiten your teeth and brighten your smile, always consult with a dental professional before using it. Contact our office if you are interested in scheduling an appointment.