What are your resolutions for the new year? This time of the year always signals new beginnings and an opportunity to change ourselves for the better! In terms of our teeth, most of us wish we had a better smile and do take steps to try to rectify old bad habits. On top of improving your everyday oral care regimen, whitening your teeth can give you that boost of confidence needed to start 2020 off right.
When your smile improves, your self-esteem and opportunities do as well! A confident smile can help give you an edge in life. Whether you need to bag that new promotion you’ve been working all year towards or just improve your selfie game on Instagram, you’ll instantly be able to see the difference this treatment can make on all aspects of your life.
Ways to Whiten Your Teeth:
At-Home Whitening Treatments: These at-home kits come in different forms, typically in a gel format applied with strips or trays and can also contain a special light to intensify the results. You can also purchase toothpastes which contain bleaching agents to whiten your teeth overtime. The amount of bleaching agents in these kits are substantially less than those found at your local clinic.
Clinical Whitening Treatments: For a noticeably whiter smile, in office dental whitening involves visiting your local dental clinic in Etobicoke to cosmetically enhance the colour of your smile. This treatment uses stronger bleaching agents and you will be able to see a dramatic difference afterward in comparison to at-home whitening kits.
Avoid those DIY remedies! “Natural” treatments that utilize things like lemon juice and charcoal can actually strip away the enamel of the tooth, causing your teeth to actually turn darker in colour and become extremely sensitive overtime.
What to Expect During an In-Office Whitening Treatment:
Out of all dental procedures, in-office teeth whitening is one of the least stressful treatments for patients; just sit back and let your dental professional work their magic! Although it depends on the brand of treatment being used, whitening appointments typically take anywhere from 60 minutes to 1.5 hours.
This treatment is based on 2 major components: the bleaching agent, which may use a hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide base, and a combination of light and heat used to speed up the process.
If you are whitening your teeth at home, it is extremely important to follow the directions labelled on your kit as instructed, as this will allow you to achieve the best results possible.
Pros of Teeth Whitening:
- You can achieve a colour 2 to 6 shades lighter than the original
- Increase your confidence and self-esteem instantly!
- Clinical whitening treatments can last for years before you need another visit
- Works best on yellow-stained teeth
- Cheaper, at-home whitening kits are available
Cons of Teeth Whitening:
- You may experience increased short-term sensitivity
- Stronger concentrations of whiteners can dehydrate the enamel and wear it away if done repeatedly
- Clinical appointments are a bit more costly than at-home treatments
- At-home treatments need multiple applications to reach a significant colour change
- Whitening treatments may not work well on dark brown or blackened teeth.
Still wondering if this treatment is right for you? Give us a call at (416) 742-2300 or send us an email at admin @ dentalhealthclinic.ca for more information and to reserve a consultation. With the help of Dr. Savita Chaudhry and her team, you can finally treat yourself to the smile you deserve!
