In pursuit of a snow-white smile, people are ready to go to great lengths as long as it brings a quick result and is not expensive. But such methods often harm the teeth. Not everyone is ready to go to the dentist because of fear but they still want to get that ideal white smile. Home whitening causes a lot of controversy. What actually lies behind home teeth whitening?
Many of us dream of a beautiful smile because white teeth look beautiful, bring status, and attract the attention of others. A snow-white smile gives a person confidence. But not everyone is blessed with perfect teeth; under the influence of various factors, the shade of the teeth can change over time. In order to restore the white color of the tooth, many resort to the whitening procedure.
Today there are two ways to whiten teeth – professional and at-home whitening. Everyone wants to get the result quickly and at no extra cost, which is why many decide on home teeth whitening. But is it of high quality, and how much will it help to maintain the effect?
Advantages and Disadvantages of Home Whitening
Home whitening has its pros and cons. The most important advantage is the low cost compared to a similar service in dentistry. In addition, it is convenient, since you do not need to waste time visiting the dentist. You may try to find one by Googling “best orthodontics nyc”.
The main disadvantage of whitening teeth at home is the low efficiency. If professional whitening makes the enamel lighter by 10-12 tones, then home whitening will help lighten teeth by 2-3 tones. Another disadvantage of home whitening is the side effects: enamel destruction, increased tooth sensitivity, mucosal irritation, gum burns, and allergic reactions.
Moreover, at-home teeth whitening can be dangerous since the procedure is carried out without prior preparation and determination of the individual characteristics of the tooth enamel, which can cause complications.
The Types of Home Whitening
To date, there are 3 main methods of home whitening:
- Pharmaceutical preparations.
- Home remedies.
- Professional home whitening.
Pharmaceutical preparations for teeth whitening are represented by the following popular types:
- Whitening strips that need to be glued to the teeth daily for two weeks.
- Whitening pencils, where it is necessary to squeeze out the whitening gel from the felt-tip pen and apply it to each tooth.
- Tooth whitening pastes contain abrasive substances that remove plaque.
Alternative methods of teeth whitening have the following options:
- Hydrogen peroxide.
- Baking soda.
- Tea tree oil.
- Activated carbon.
Professional home teeth whitening involves Glo teeth whitening kits with individual caps and gel. This method is developed by a dentist in a laboratory based on casts of teeth, but you need to put on and wear gel caps at home on your own.
Contraindications to Home Teeth Whitening
Home teeth whitening has its contraindications:
- Pregnancy and lactation.
- Age up to 18 years.
- Tooth decay and inflammation of the gums.
- Allergy to components.
Affordable price, ease of action, and quick results are the criteria by which many try to choose teeth whitening at home.
The bottom line
Teeth whitening is a completely safe procedure, but only if it is carried out according to all the rules. With excessive exposure (depending on the type of whitening, which can be mechanical or chemical) the enamel of the teeth can become thinner. However, with moderate exposure, teeth whitening does not threaten anything.
However, in most cases the result of the home procedure is insufficient. In addition, such whitening may not be safe and the weak effect achieved will not justify the harm done to the teeth. Improper whitening of teeth at home can cause various dental diseases, and already existing problems with teeth will only aggravate the situation. Before home whitening, you should consult with a specialist.
