What are the best teeth whitening treatments?
When asked, most people would prefer a whiter smile and with whitening treatments often not covered by dental or private medical insurance you will probably have to pay for it yourself. But what is the best value for money option when it comes to whitening your teeth? Which treatment will get you the best results? Read on for the answer.
“Whitening” toothpaste
Cost: £
Whitening power: Low
Toothpaste that claims to whiten can and will do so but it will only remove surface stains from your teeth. This is because toothpaste will typically only contain up to 1.5% hydrogen peroxide (that's the stuff that whitens your teeth). Whitening toothpaste can be a nice, convenient regular top up to keep on top of surface stains once you’ve managed to get your teeth sufficiently whitened, but it’s not going to noticeably change the appearance of your teeth.
Whitening gels or strips
Cost: ££
Whitening power: Bronze medal
Whitening gels and strips are available in most supermarkets or chemists that sell cosmetics. In comparison to toothpaste, the hydrogen peroxide content can be around 6 times greater (6 to 10%) and at that level it can penetrate your tooth enamel to begin removing stains. With whitening gels and strips you need to ensure to apply them for as long as directed. You also need to try and apply them evenly. If you follow the guidance exactly then the results should be nice. If you don’t then its not uncommon to suffer from gum irritation and unevenly white teeth - that is you’ll have visible patches of white across your teeth.
Whitening kits / trays
Cost: £££
Whitening power: Silver medal
Whitening kits and trays work on the same principal as whitening strips. You apply a whitening agent to your teeth that is kept in place with a mold that resembles a gum shield and after use your teeth are noticeably whiter. Where whitening kits and trays are better is that the mold is custom built to perfectly fit the shape of your teeth meaning there’s far less chance of gum irritation or patchy results. The gel that comes with whitening kits or trays is stronger than that used in whitening strips which is why you have to buy them from a dentist. You can buy whitening kits online but for your safety we strongly recommend against it. The best option is to speak to a dentist who can advise as to whether it's safe to use the whitening gel on your teeth and if so they’ll ensure to provide all the advice you need to get the best results without harming yourself.
In surgery whitening
Cost:££££
Whitening power: Gold medal
Whitening your teeth from a dentist's chair will guarantee you the best results using one or more methods that dentists have at their disposal. The whitening treatments available via dentists can be over twice as effective as whitening kits and five times as effective as whitening strips however the cost is a lot higher.
Conclusion
So we’ve highlighted four of the best options when it comes to whitening your teeth. The great news is you can whiten your teeth whatever your budget but if budget is not an issue then there are certainly ways to get a white smiler faster.
If budget is an issue then try to avoid cutting corners and speak to your dentist about how they can help you within your budget. We can’t stress enough that there’s a reason only dental professionals are permitted to perform whitening treatment in the UK. You should never trust whitening products that can be bought at very low prices on the internet or treatments from salons as they cannot guarantee your safety nor are they qualified to understand whether your oral condition places you at risk when it comes to teeth whitening.
Teeth whitening at Osborne Family Dentists
Osborne Family Dentists can provide all of the advice that you need in relation to the safe whitening of your teeth and what the best options are for you. Our cosmetic teeth whitening treatments are available from £395 and this includes an initial free consultation to discuss your needs.
Contact us
Tel: 0191 230 4565 Email: info@osbornefamilydentists.com
North Shields dentist clinic: 3 Nile Street, North Shields, NE29 0BE