The perfect smile is just a teeth whitening service away. Whitening is great for removing any yellowing or stains on the exterior of your teeth. It sometimes isn’t as effective in getting rid of any deeper stains on the interior of your teeth, but whitening will still improve the appearance of your teeth.
The two options
There are two options for teeth whitening, depending on personal preference. The process of teeth whitening should fit into your lifestyle, so if you’re always busy, then teeth whitening at home might be the option for you. However, if you’d rather get it done at the dentist, then you might prefer the in-house teeth whitening service.
- Teeth whitening completed by your dentist
If you want instant results and to come out of the dentist appointment with sparkling white teeth then this is most likely the best route for you. Your dentist will be able to treat your teeth with stronger bleach than you can just buy off the shelves at your local drugstore. The thing with both teeth whitening options is that the results do depend on your teeth, some people’s teeth will whiten better than others, and others may need a couple of extra treatments. The price for this treatment does tend to vary, depending on a lot of factors, like the length of the appointment. Prices often start at £500 but can go all the way up to £2000.
There is an advantage to opting for teeth whitening completed by your dentist, and this is that it’s extremely quick, from around an hour to ninety minutes long. Also, some people do experience sensitivity after whitening, but getting your teeth whitening by a professional slightly eliminates this risk as a dentist will only put the whitener on your teeth. If you choose to whiten your teeth yourself, there is the risk of the whitening liquid leaking onto your gums and causing irritation.
In terms of disadvantages, sensitivity is a problem with any method of teeth whitening. But, because of the strength of bleach, a dentist may use, you may experience increased sensitivity if you opt for this method. It should only last around 24-48 hours long, and if it lasts any longer then a quick check-in with your dentist may be necessary.
- Teeth whitening completed at home, while being supervised by your dentist
The second option is teeth whitening which is done by you, at home. The first step is for your dentist to create a retainer that fits exactly into your mouth. To do this, they will take a mould of your teeth. Then, to complete the whitening you will need to place the whitening gel in the retainer and wear it for however long your dentist recommends. Sometimes this can be for half an hour, or slightly longer. The key is to get as much contact between your teeth and the whitening gel as possible.
The most obvious advantage here is that this method of whitening completely fits into your lifestyle and routine. You can do the whitening at any time you wish. Also, this method of whitening does tend to be a more cost-effective option as you’re not paying for your dentist’s time and knowledge. It will whiten just as well, for a cheaper price, which is a win-win situation. The price tends to be significantly lower than option one, at around £200 to £400 – and that’s including your retainer, whitening gel and dentist appointments.
For disadvantages, this option is definitely a slower process than just a one-time visit to your local dentist. Instead, it will take a few times of you putting in your whitening gel and retainer for you to see any noticeable difference. This is because the gel tends to be less powerful than the one done by your dentist. Also, this method is likely to cost you more time in the long run as you’ll have to take regular trips to the dentist to make sure that your retainer still fits properly.
Choose the option which suits you best
There are many things you should consider before choosing the teeth whitening option for you. Think about what fits in with your lifestyle. Do you prefer a quicker method of teeth whitening? Or would you rather complete it yourself at home? Both methods of whitening are guaranteed to give you those pearly white teeth that you’re after, so now it’s down to you.
