WHY PROFESSIONAL TEETH WHITENING BEATS OVER-THE-COUNTER PRODUCTS
If you came of age in the last century, you probably remember Ultra Brite whitening toothpaste and Pearl Drops whitening tooth polish. Ultra Brite became popular in the late 1960s, with heavy marketing promoting how its whitening power “gives your mouth sex appeal.” Also launched in the late 1960s, Pearl Drops gained significant market success in the early 1970s despite being priced up to three times higher than standard toothpaste.
Given the immense success of these products, it didn’t take long for toothpaste makers to start adding whitening agents into their formulations. Today, just about all toothpaste brands offer numerous whitening formulations with promises like:
- Advanced whitening
- Deep Cleaning
- Stain Removal
- Extra Whitening
- White Brilliance
- X2 Faster Whitening
- Whiter Smile in 7 Days
- Expert Level Whitening
- Visibly Whiter Teeth in 3 Days
Meanwhile, in 1991, dental products company Ultradent released Opalescence, the first take-home teeth-whitening kit. As with the emergence and success of whitening toothpaste, other companies jumped on the bandwagon, and you can now select from among dozens of take-home whitening kits, all of which promise whiter, brighter smiles akin to the taglines of whitening toothpaste.
With so many whitening options to choose from, how do you choose the best? How do you get past the marketing claims to find a product that will truly remove stains, whiten, and brighten your teeth?
The Marco Island, Florida-based dentists of Island Tower Dentistry will tell you there’s nothing wrong with whitening your teeth with over-the-counter solutions. However, Dr. Jonathan Van Dyke and Dr. Ryan Whelen will add that none of them can provide the superior results offered by professional teeth whitening at your Southwest Florida dental clinic. Let’s look closer at how professional teeth whitening from your dentist differs from over-the-counter kits and whitening toothpaste.
WHITENING TOOTHPASTE LIMITATIONS
Despite their popularity, the efficacy of whitening toothpaste is limited. The concentration of whitening or bleaching agents used in these formulations is typically too small to provide effective stain removal, whitening, or brightening over the short term. In fact, it usually takes weeks, if not months, of daily brushing to realize even moderate results. Additionally, the concentrations are only effective at removing surface stains and cannot whiten deeper-level stains in the enamel.
Whitening toothpaste containing abrasive stain-removing agents also helps remove surface discoloration; however, prolonged use of these products can wear down the enamel. Not only can this increase the likelihood of tooth sensitivity, but it can also expose the underlying dentin, which is more porous and prone to staining. To avoid excessive enamel wear, the American Dental Association recommends using toothpastes containing less than 250 of Relative Dentin Abrasivity.
OVER-THE-COUNTER TEETH WHITENING KIT LIMITATIONS
Most over-the-counter teeth-whitening kits use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to bleach out stains and make teeth appear whiter. While this can be effective, professional teeth whitening offered by your dentist typically uses much higher concentrations of the bleaching agents. This produces much more dramatic and longer-lasting whitening results in just one session than can be achieved by at-home kits.
Take-home kits usually rely on adhesive strips that adhere to your teeth or generic mouth trays that fit over your teeth. Both options may not fully cover all teeth, leaving some enamel untouched by the bleaching agents. Professional teeth cleaning uses custom-made dental trays that conform to the distinct shape of your teeth to ensure complete stain removal and brightening of all tooth surfaces.
YOUR DENTIST OFFERS OPTIMAL TEETH WHITENING OPTIONS
For the best in stain removal and teeth whitening in Marco Island, trust in your dental professional. In addition to offering higher concentration cleaning and complete teeth coverage, your dentist can assess your teeth and oral health to determine the best cleaning approach. They can determine what might work best for treating deep-level stains and discoloration that over-the-counter treatments might not be able to treat. They can also account for any oral health issues or tooth sensitivity to ensure that the professional cleaning doesn’t irritate gums or cause discomfort.
CONSULT WITH ISLAND TOWER DENTISTRY ABOUT YOUR TEETH WHITENING
The dental-care professionals at Island Tower Dentistry offer Marco Island patients several teeth whitening treatment options and can customize a treatment plan to meet your aesthetic goals and support your oral health. Island Tower Dentistry is happy to announce they now offer KöR Whitening for professional whitening treatments. For the best in smile beautification, Dr. Van Dyke and Dr. Whelen recommend that you start with their office’s exclusive smile analysis. This assessment examines the shape, contour, color, and translucency of your teeth to develop a treatment plan to optimize all elements of your smile. To schedule your professional whitening treatment or smile analysis, contact us today at 239-394-1004 for a consultation.