Cosmetic Teeth Whitening Vs Over-The-Counter Products
There’s hardly anyone who doesn’t want a bright smile, and the good news is that it is easier to achieve now. Walk into any supermarket or pharmacy, and you'll find tons of whitening toothpastes and kits all promising dazzling results. But then there's cosmetic teeth whitening that promises something altogether different. So how do these actually compare? Is the professional route worth it? Here’s an honest take on both sides.
What Over-the-Counter Products Actually Do
Whitening toothpastes and home kits are widely available. They are affordable and extremely convenient. This is the reason people usually go for these when they are looking to brighten their smile.
That said, most over-the-counter teeth whitening products work by using mild abrasives or low concentrations of bleaching agents. They can make a visible difference if your teeth are stained from tea, coffee, or red wine. However, the results are modest at best. In other words, they can’t change the natural colour of your teeth or address deeper discolouration.
As for over-the-counter strips and trays, they have a one-size-fits-all approach, which is clearly not appropriate. In such a case, the whitening agent doesn't always make even contact with every tooth. This results in uneven results and gum irritation, neither of which is particularly pleasant.
What Professional Cosmetic Teeth Whitening Offers
Professional cosmetic teeth whitening offers a different experience. Rather than working with a generic product, a trained dental professional assesses your teeth, discusses your goals, and creates a plan that is customised to your exact needs.
The bleaching agents used in professional
cosmetic treatments are much stronger than anything available over the counter. Moreover, they are applied with great care, protecting gums and surrounding tissue. Thus, the results are more dramatic, more even, and far longer lasting.
To add to this, most professional whitening treatments also include a take-home component. It involves a custom-fitted tray made specifically for your mouth. It will allow you to maintain your results at home with far better coverage.
Safety, Sensitivity, and Getting It Right
One concern that people almost always raise about teeth whitening is sensitivity. It is true that both professional and over-the-counter treatments can cause some temporary sensitivity, but professional treatments are far better equipped to deal with this.
When you go to a dentist in London, they will assess your suitability for treatment and identify any existing dental issues that could be aggravated. If needed, they will tweak the treatment accordingly. This is where they are notably different from over-the-counter products, where there’s no such assessment.
It's also worth noting that only a registered dentist in London or a similar dental professional can offer teeth whitening treatments using higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. It is this ingredient that actually delivers the most effective results.
Key Takeaway
Over-the-counter whitening products available everywhere are undoubtedly more affordable. However, if you are looking for lasting results that are genuinely more noticeable, it is better to opt for professional cosmetic teeth whitening.
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