At-Home Whitening

According to studies, in 2015, Americans spent over $1.4 billion on at-home whitening products for their teeth. These include dentist-prescribed at-home custom teeth whitening trays and over-the-counter teeth whitening products. This statistic highlights the need for at-home teeth whitening, however, it fails to capture just how many of these products are successful.

There are a lot of at-home teeth whitening products out there. However, many of them are largely ineffective because tooth discoloration may happen for various different reasons and most over-the-counter teeth whitening products only bleach the surface, that too not very effectively. Some of them also contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful.

The best way to ensure teeth whitening is to seek professional teeth whitening at a dentist’s office. However, some people prefer at-home products. In that case, you should know exactly which at-home whitening product to use and how to use it. That’s what we discuss in this article.

What is At-Home Dentist Teeth Whitening?

At-home dentist teeth whitening refers to the process of using professional dentist-prescribed teeth whitening trays and kits to brighten your teeth. These dentist-prescribed at-home teeth whitening kits have a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which makes them more effective and also more expensive than over-the-counter teeth whitening kits. A professional at-home teeth whitening kit also comes with custom-fitted dental trays so that the whitening gel can remain on the surface of the teeth longer and protect the gums from the gel. At-home dentist teeth whitening is easy to use and you can generally see improvements over a period of two weeks.

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How to Use At-Home Custom Teeth Whitening Trays?

Professional at-home dentist teeth whitening can’t be found in stores because they use at-home custom teeth whitening trays that have to be manufactured specifically according to the contours of your teeth. You need these contoured trays because that’s the only way to ensure that the whitening gel gets into every corner of your teeth and nowhere else. Without them, the solution may get on your gums or may be wasted.

When opting for at-home dentist teeth whitening, you need to go through these steps:

Visit your nearest dental clinic. They’ll take impressions of your upper and lower teeth using a non-toxic dental putty. The impressions will then be sent to laboratories to create custom dental trays — the whole process should take one or two weeks.
The dentist will also record your teeth’s shade so it can be compared to the final product later.
Once the whitening trays are prepared, you’ll be called over to demonstrate how to use the at-home custom teeth whitening trays.
You must brush, floss, and rinse thoroughly every time before application of the dental trays.
You have to wear the at-home custom teeth whitening trays for approximately one hour every day for two weeks. You may also be given a tray that you can wear all throughout the night. You should not eat, drink, or smoke while the trays are on, or for around 30 minutes after taking them off.
After the two-week period is up, you will return to the dentist so they can track your whitening progress. If necessary, more whitening solution may also be used for touch-ups.

At-Home Dental Whitening Strips

At-home dental whitening strips are basically membranous films coated with a bleaching gel that you have to wear on your teeth. They don’t have to be custom-made and you can even wear them during work because they’re not very obtrusive. However, these strips come with various issues:

They can’t remove stains between the teeth.
They may not whiten your teeth evenly and may miss out some parts of your teeth, which can give an uneven impression.
They may not be able to cover all of your teeth.
They’re not suitable for crooked teeth.
Saliva can get under the strips and dilute the whitening solution, making it ineffective.

Brush-On Whitening

Brush-on whitening provides instant whitening from fresh stains. You simply use these pens over your teeth after you’ve had a meal to get rid of fresh stains. They’re popular because they’re easy to use and you can simply apply them as you would a lip balm — but they can only remove fresh surface stains, making them ineffective for long-term teeth whitening for deeper stains.

Dentist-Prescribed Toothpaste

You may also ask your dentist to prescribe special toothpaste with peroxide, abrasives, or special bleaching agents. They can be used to maintain white teeth if you already have fairly white teeth, but they can’t be used to whiten teeth that’s considerably yellow.

PATIENT TESTIMONIALS

This place is great! Everyone is so kind and very professional. The dentist is awesome also. He takes the time to listen and gives you all the options with no pressure. They are also great with kids here. My 10 and 3 year old also do well when they come here. I highly recommend this place for anyone who wants great care for their teeth.

Laura H.

The entire office is very friendly. They go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. I really appreciated the extra time each Doctor took to review my medical history. Very gentle, kind and confident dental care.

Paula H.

I can’t say enough about my experience at this dental office! The entire staff was very friendly, from the second I walked in to the time I walked out. The doctor took the time to explain all that was going on, and he was very gentle in his approach which is what I like. Highly recommend this place!

Shaan

Me and my wife had been looking for a new dentist and we finally found them. This group of people are great. Extremely courteous and good at what they do. I couldn’t be more pleased with our new dentists and would highly recommend them to anyone.

Paul S.

The staff was so friendly and helpful. You can tell they really care about their patients and love what they do. They all made the experience really easy & comfortable. Highly recommend!

Kurstie P.

Hadn’t been to the dentist in 3 years because I just didn’t like it… tried this one out. Very kind and professional staff, friendly, outgoing, made me feel welcome. Definitely would recommend this dentist

Meena D.

The office is very clean and my daughter loved the tv in the ceiling to watch while her work was being done. Thanks again to the staff and doctor for making her feel comfortable.

Michael J.

Great customer service from check in to check out! It was my daughter’s first dental appointment and the staff made her very comfortable!

Santanna W.

The staff was very welcoming and friendly! Dr. Pattni explained my plan thoroughly and made sure I was comfortable during my treatment which I really appreciated. They also perform orthodontic work at affordable prices which is great because now I only have to go to one office for all of my dental needs. Not to mention the decor, ambiance, and state-of-the-art equipment is truly exceptional! Will definitely be coming back!

Anjani P.

FAQs About At-Home Whitening

What is the best teeth-whitening kit to do at home?

The best teeth-whitening kit to do at home is one that’s prescribed by your local dentist.

What can I use to whiten my teeth at home?

There are a number of ways to whiten your teeth at home — you can use at-home custom teeth whitening trays, whitening strips, brush-on whitening, and abrasive toothpaste. All of them have different levels of effectiveness, depending on your teeth.

Having yellow teeth, how long does it take to get them white?

The amount of time it takes for yellow teeth to get white depends on the type of procedure you use and the type of stains you have. Surface stains can be removed pretty easily within a week. However, deeper stains may take a lot longer. If you use at-home custom teeth whitening trays, your teeth may become whiter over a period of two weeks or more.

How to whiten my teeth without destroying enamel?

You can whiten your teeth without destroying your enamel by visiting your local dentist and consulting them about your options. Professional teeth whitening options are usually safe and they whiten teeth while preserving the enamel.