In today’s society where image is everything, it pays to give a good first impression and many people agree – a white and beautiful smile can really work, whether you’re trying to win over an interviewer or a date.
Because of the great impact a stunning set of teeth can give, the popularity of whitening has seen a remarkable rise, even compared to the increasing popularity of cosmetic dentistry in general. The two most common and effective methods of teeth whitening are at home and in surgery whitening.
At Home Whitening
At home whitening is quite self explanatory; it’s a whitening method that can be performed by yourself in your own home.
A home whitening kit can be purchased from a dentist who will take an impression of your teeth that will be used to make trays to fit your teeth, which are then filled with whitening gel and worn for up to two hours a day for a number of days or weeks, depending on the level of whiteness you want.
Because it can be done at home, at home whitening is becoming very popular and, as such, unofficial whitening kits are becoming more common as bought on the internet. They should be avoided however as they are quite often unsafe, using a whitening bleach that is too concentrated and which can be exceptionally damaging to your teeth and gums.
In Surgery Whitening
As with at home whitening, the name explains what this method is all about. In surgery whitening is performed by your dentist at the dental surgery and is a much quicker way of whitening teeth than at home whitening, although it generally doesn’t last as long as at home and the final results are generally better with at home whitening.
This procedure involves the use of light sensitive gel which is applied to the teeth. This gel is then exposed to either a whitening laser or specialised light which whitens the teeth at a much faster rate than with at home whitening, taking between just 30 and 60 minutes although multiple visits may be needed.
While both methods have good and bad points, the two are highly popular and safe, although sensitivity in the teeth during and following the procedures is not uncommon.