If you’ve noticed your teeth aren’t quite as pearly white as you’d like them to be, you may be in the market for a whitening product or treatment. Over the counter gels or strips are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased at most drug or discount stores, but they tend to be less powerful than professional, and thus take longer to be effective. On the other hand, professional treatment may cost a bit more but can erase up to eight shades of discoloration in about an hour.
While many factors may go into your decision of which method you choose, one thing remains the same for both treatments: it’s important that you only treat a healthy mouth.
Here’s why that’s so important when whitening your teeth.
A Sensitive Subject
While whitening your teeth is a safe and effective way to remove stains and discoloration, there is one common side effect that many patients experience no matter if they use professional or OTC ingredients: sensitivity. Though this discomfort is temporary and typically goes away within a few days after your treatment, if you have any oral health problems such as untreated cavities or tooth decay, it can make your teeth go from bad to worse.
That’s because the chemicals used in whitening can further damage them. If they are already experiencing sensitivity, this can become more painful, and if they didn’t experience it before they could begin to do so and continue until you receive treatment from your dentist.
Why Professional is Better
When you receive a professional whitening treatment, you will first need a consultation. At this appointment, your teeth and gums will be examined and if there are any problems like cavities or decay present, you will need to be treated for those first. This is to protect your teeth and prevent more damage. With OTC products, you don’t have the benefit of this type of exam, so you could be whitening teeth that aren’t healthy enough to begin with. Worse yet, because OTC products contain diluted ingredients, your treatment will take longer and require you to expose even healthy teeth to chemicals for an extended period. This means that you will experience sensitivity longer no matter what condition your teeth are in.
Remember, whitening your teeth is safe and effective, but for best results, speak to your dentist about professional whitening. This treatment is faster than OTC products, and because it’s administered by a trained professional, you won’t need to worry about worsening damage to injured teeth.
About Dr. Saati
Dr. Spiro Saati has been providing excellent oral health solutions in Peabody for his entire career. His favorite part of his job is the people he gets to meet and form a trusted relationship with, and part of that trust is never doing anything to cause harm to your smile.
If you’re concerned about the color of your teeth, Dr. Saati is proud to provide professional whitening treatment that will remove up to eight shades of discoloration in about an hour, but rest assured he will only do so if your oral health is in good condition.
To learn more about this treatment and see if you’re a good candidate, schedule a consultation with us today by visiting our website or calling 978-531-2185.