Does Home Teeth Whitening Actually Work?

If you want to try teeth whitening but professional treatments are too expensive, then you may have looked into at home teeth whitening solutions. Whitening toothpastes, bleaching kits and whitening strips are readily available in many stores and they come at fairly low prices. Do they actually work and, if so, why doesn’t everyone choose home whitening over professional whitening?

Understanding Home Tooth Whitening

Home teeth whitening is a popular option because it is inexpensive and there are literally hundreds of products to choose from. Whitening toothpastes in particular are common and there are constant advertisements telling us how great home whitening products are.

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However as popular as they are, there is quite a lot of debate as to whether they actually work. Many experts claim that home kits do nothing but damage your teeth and waste your money. On the other hand, hundreds of people have claimed that they have experienced great results with home products. So who do you believe and do home products actually work?

The main thing that you have to keep in mind is that every single person will have different staining on their teeth. Some people have only mild stains, while others will have pretty severe staining. This means that what works for somebody with mild staining will not necessarily work for somebody with badly stained teeth. So already you know that some whitening products out there will not necessarily work for you.

Toothpastes for Whitening at Home

Whitening toothpastes can be an excellent remedy for mild staining. Aim for well known brands whenever possible. However, while these toothpastes can work well, they are not designed to be used for long periods of time. The ingredients within them can break down your enamel over time and that can cause serious problems for your teeth. So if you do try out whitening toothpastes, then only use them for a short period of time, and alternate them with a good basic fluoride gel.

Whiten Your Teeth at Home for Mild Stains

Generally home teeth whitening is designed for mild staining. The bleaching kits that you purchase are not as powerful as the bleaching procedure that you would get at your dentist's office. This is because the carabamide peroxide used during professional bleaching is stronger than in the gels that you can buy over the counter. The stronger solutions can cause more sensitivity and could even be damaging if used incorrectly. For this reason the home treatments tend to be less strong, less effective, and therefore suitable mostly for mild staining problems.

Home bleaching kits can be effective but you will typically need a series of treatments to get any real change in tooth color. Most of these systems state clearly in the directions how many times, how often, and how long to apply the bleaching gel. If you do choose this form of home teeth whitening then you be sure to read the instructions carefully and to reread every time you purchase a new package. While they are not always as powerful as professional bleaching products, they can still be harmful if applied incorrectly.

Overall there are several treatments that you can use at home. They aren't equally effective for all people, and they are usually used for mild staining problems. So, if you do have more severe staining, or if you are not confident about home bleaching, then it would be a good idea to talk to your dentist and discuss possible alternatives.

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