Teeth whitening can make a big difference in your smile and self-esteem! It works by using a bleaching agent to restore a bright white smile. However, not all treatments are the same. If you’re considering teeth whitening, here’s what you need to know about the different options and what may be best for you.
How Does the Bleaching Process Work?
Teeth whitening uses a bleaching agent such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to help restore a brighter appearance. When the bleach comes into contact with your teeth, the stains are broken into smaller pieces. As a result, your smile appears whiter.
What About Teeth Whitening with a Laser?
Professional laser treatment also uses a bleaching agent to whiten your teeth. However, a specialized light helps to speed up the process, so you can get results in minutes.
Here at Aliso Smiles, we offer ZOOM!® in-office whitening with a laser to activate the whitening gel. With this treatment, you can get your teeth up to 8 shades whiter in a single visit!
What Other Professional Options Are Available?
At Aliso Smiles, we also offer At-Home whitening kits. With this method, we take a digital scan of your teeth and create a customized mouthguard just for you. We then provide you with whitening gel to wear inside the mouthguard and instructions to achieve the results you desire.
You may wear the mouthguard anywhere from a couple of hours a day to all night – up to four weeks or longer, depending on your whitening goals.
What Are the Benefits of Professional Whitening?
While store-bought whitening kits can help with light-surface stains, we believe that professional whitening is the best option. Among the benefits, professional whitening can offer:
- the quickest and most dramatic results, no matter how stained your teeth may be
- personalized care guided by a dental professional to help reduce the risk of problems or side effects
What Are the Possible Side Effects?
One possible side effect of teeth whitening is teeth sensitivity. Also, problems such as irritation to the gums or enamel erosion may occur if over-the-counter whitening kits are used improperly.
Having professional consultation from your dental provider can help ensure that you use the correct concentration of whitening formula to provide the best results with the least possible side effects.
Want to Learn More About Teeth Whitening?
If you’re ready for a brighter smile, reach out to us today at Aliso Smiles. Give us a call at (949) 916-7800 to schedule a consultation.