Over-the-Counter Whitening vs Professional Whitening at Forster Dental Centre
A glance at the oral health aisle in the grocery store or local pharmacy can be confusing.
Nearly every product, from toothpaste to tray-based moulds, claims to whiten teeth.
Do these products work, or should you visit your Forster Dental Centre dentist to obtain white teeth?
At Forster Dental Centre, we believe that over-the-counter (OTC) products can be useful in limited circumstances.
But, in general, professional whitening (either in-office or customised at-home treatment) is far more efficient, effective, safe, and timely.
Let’s take a quick look at OTC options, as well as what we offer at Forster Dental Centre.
Methods of Over-the-Counter Whitening
The following are three of the most popular methods for teeth whitening:
#1 Teeth Whitening Toothpastes/Washes
Every toothpaste contains at least a mild abrasive to help keep the surface of your teeth free from stains.
But in addition to this mild abrasive, you can also purchase a toothpaste that use special polishing or bleaching agents to whiten the teeth.
These can take weeks to have an effect, and if your stains are due to habits such as smoking or drinking coffee, they will not be effective.
Rinses are swirled around in the mouth and then spat out. Because they remain in the mouth for such a short time, they have minimal effect.
Whitening rinses can take up to 12 weeks to see results, and the results are not very dramatic.
#2 Teeth Whitening Gels and Strips
Teeth whitening strips and gels are generally peroxide-based and work by extended contact with the teeth.
Some gels are applied with a brush and can work in as soon as a few days. The whitening only lasts up to about four months.
Whitening strips take away the inconvenience of the brush, as the gel is held in place on the strips. You apply the strips twice daily and typically do so for two weeks.
#3 OTC Teeth Bleaching
These mass-produced trays are filled with whitening gel and placed over the teeth.
Because the trays are mass-produced, they are unlikely to fit well and can rub and irritate gums. The gel can also leak out, leading to irritation to the gum and stomach (if swallowed).
Finally, they don’t come with professional supervision, which can make them dangerous for people who try to speed up the whitening process by overusing them.
How Forster Dental Centre can help
Professional Teeth Bleaching
The quickest, safest, and most effective teeth whitening procedure is a professional teeth bleaching from your Forster dentist.
We use a gel that contains much stronger agents than available in OTC products, and this means substantially better results.
An OTC kit typically contains roughly 10 to 22 per cent carbamide peroxide, which is about three per cent hydrogen peroxide.
The bleaching agents dentists usually use contain between 15 to 43 per cent hydrogen peroxide. Because our bleaching agents are potent, we also protect the rest of your mouth, such as your gums.
Dentists can perform teeth bleaching in-office or can assist you with at-home teeth bleaching using whitening trays specially designed to fit your teeth perfectly.
If you choose in-office whitening, you can walk out of a short visit to our clinic with teeth that are 6-8 shades brighter.
This makes in-office whitening perfect for patients in a hurry. Unlike OTC teeth whitening kits, a professional teeth bleaching can result in whiter teeth for over a year before another treatment may be needed, and that treatment may just be maintenance.
5 great reasons to get whitening from Forster Dental Centre
#1 Whitening increases confidence and self-esteem
Whitening eliminates stains and brightens your smile, giving you more self-confidence and making others perceive you as younger, smarter, more efficient, etc.
#2 Whitening is an anti-aging procedure – and there are no needles or surgery!
Studies show that whiter teeth are associated with beauty and youth, and we also look younger when we smile.
#3 Whitening is the most conservative treatment for whitening teeth
Whitening does not damage the teeth in the way some other whitening treatments do.
#4 Professional whitening is fast and safe
With in-office whitening, your teeth can be whitened in as little as one hour, and at-home professional whitening only takes a few weeks.
#5 Whitening is easy to maintain.
Once your teeth have achieved the shade you want, you do simple whitening upkeep to keep them there.
Teeth Whitening at Forster Dental Centre
Your Local Dentist – Forster Dental Centre
At Forster Dental Centre, we provide each patient with the care that gives them healthy teeth and a beautiful smile for life!
We offer an extensive range of dental services, including preventative dentistry, restorative dental options, and the latest in cosmetic dentistry solutions for straighter and whiter teeth.
We pride ourselves on listening to the needs and concerns of all our patients and aim to provide you with the personalised attention you and your family deserves.
Forster dentist is also serving local communities in Tuncurry, Pacific Palms, Smiths Lake, Hallidays Point, Failford, Old Bar, Nabiac, Taree, Manning Valley, Bulahdelah, Harrington and Great Lakes.
For more information, contact us on (02) 6555 5554 or request your appointment online here.
We are located at 1st Floor Forster Tower, 12 Wallis St in Forster.