Teeth Whitening: At-home Whitening Vs. Professional Whitening
A bright smile can open new avenues in the professional sphere. You cannot deny the importance of a bright, flawless smile to boost your self-esteem and help you in personal relationships. The teeth tend to lose their natural colour due to regular usage, poor oral hygiene, and aging. A cosmetic dentist near you employs various professional methods to whiten teeth and rejuvenate your smile.
Why Teeth Changes Color?
Cosmetic dentistry has evolved dramatically over the last two or three decades as virtually everyone is conscious of having a bright smile and opts for teeth whitening Astoria. Dentists near you can whiten and brighten your teeth by using bleaching agents. Over time various factors contribute to patches on the teeth, causing discoloration.
Food and Beverages
Intense coloring pigments called chromogens present in particular food, and caffeinated beverages leave tough stains on the teeth. Ripe fruits, tea, coffee, colored vegetables, and red wine are the main culprits to give stained teeth.
Use of Tobacco
Tobacco contains tar and nicotine that causes tough stains on the enamel. Tar is usually dark and can decolor the teeth. Nicotine is otherwise colorless until mixed with oxygen and saliva. Both tar and nicotine form tough stains on the enamel.
Age
With regular usage and age, the dentin tends to deplete. Dentine is a yellowish layer placed below the enamel. Once the enamel depletes, the dentine is exposed, and teeth lose their natural shine.
Trauma
Accidents or oral trauma might cause loss of dentine or blood clots. If the dentine is lost permanently, the dentine is exposed, which is yellowish.
Medication
Side effects of blood pressure medication or antihistamines can cause discoloration of teeth. Children, when exposed to antibiotics like doxycycline, cause discoloration of their teeth.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening in Astoria, NY, is performed by experienced dentists using bleaching agents. In most whitening agents, hydrogen peroxide is the primary component and contains 15% to 43% hydrogen peroxide.
In-office teeth whitening is a short, non-invasive process and can last from 30 minutes to 60 minutes. You can obtain three to eight shades brighter teeth with professional dental cleaning, and the bleaching solution is more concentrated than those used in home kits.
The latest incorporation in professional teeth whitening is the zoom system, which is a 2-hour teeth whitening process and uses heat, whitening agents, and special or laser light.
At-home Teeth Whitening
At-home teeth whitening is done under dentist guidance and includes teeth whitening gels, strips, foam, or toothpaste. The teeth whitening process at home is a lengthy process and needs to be repeated twice a day for a minimum of 14 days. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide is very low in at-home teeth whitening kits.
You can also use tray-based teeth whitening in which customized trays are filled with a dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide and applied on the teeth for around 2 hours every day for 4 weeks. You may also brush regularly with a whitening toothpaste that contains mild abrasives to whiten the teeth.
At-home Whitening Vs. Professional Whitening
If you are looking to whiten your teeth at less budget, then you may choose an at-home teeth whitening process. At-home teeth whitening can cost around $50 while getting professional teeth whitening can be around $300.
Apart from the higher cost, professional teeth whitening is the clear winner. Professional teeth whitening can get rid of the tougher stains due to a higher concentration of bleaching agents and lasts longer than at-home teeth whitening. In-office teeth whitening also lasts for about 2 to 3 years, while the in-house whitening process needs to be repeated within a few months.
The biggest advantage of professional teeth cleaning is the time. You can get 8 shades of whiter teeth within 60 minutes at the dental clinic. On the contrary, you need to repeat the whitening drill at home for 2 hours a day for a fortnight. Although, the level of whitening would still be lesser than professional whitening.
The dentist also plays a vital role in professional teeth whitening. If you are looking for a dentist in Astoria NY, then DiMaggio Dental can be your destination. Apart from teeth whitening, we offer emergency dentistry, dental implants, and endodontics. You may book an appointment and experience that patient care is our top priority.