Patients in Charleston SC see whiter teeth courtesy of take-home whitening trays

Whiter teeth are on many patient’s wish lists, and most smile makeovers would not be complete without a whitening treatment. While you’re fortunate to have so many different ways to achieve whiter teeth, not all of these methods are effective or safe. If you seek whiter teeth in Charleston SC at Mouth Carolina Dentistry, PA, rest assured your teeth are becoming brighter without risks to hard and soft tissues.

So many options

If you’re new to the whitening world, the first treatment that comes to mind probably sits on a shelf at your local drugstore. There are numerous whitening toothpastes, mouthwashes, strips, chewing gums, pens, and lipsticks marketed as brighteners.

Teeth whitening comes down to understanding effective whiteners restore your teeth to their natural color. If you always craved a whiter smile, bleaching treatments can get your teeth up to several shades whiter, beyond their natural color.

Many of the products bought in the store won’t whiten your teeth. They just contain too little of the active ingredient necessary to whiten or bleach your teeth. You may see little if any results. In some cases, products are merely optical illusions. Some toothpastes use a bluing agents, which absorb yellow light to make teeth look brighter. Cosmetics use the same concept. When a lipstick with a blue tinge or containing a bluing agent is applied to the teeth, your smile can look brighter.

Not all whitening kits are created equal

Of course, Mouth Carolina Dentistry, PA will always warn patients of the dangers of store bought products that may seem comparable to what is prescribed by dental professionals, including whitening kits.

A dental tray contains a whitening gel. You wear the tray for a specified period each day from the comfort of your home. In theory, you should get a gradually brighter smile over the weeks or months of treatment. The problem with home kits from the mall is the appliances are not customized to fit your mouth.

Since the whitening agent is delivered to your teeth via the tray, a secure fit is required to whiten precisely and uniformly. One-size-fits-all trays do not fit securely against the teeth, so the whitening agent is not delivered evenly. Since these trays don’t fit properly, they can leak and irritate delicate gum tissues.

Dr. Andrew Greenberg’s whitening treatment of choice is a tray customized to fit your mouth. The tray is worn at home. Since Dr. Greenberg is able to prescribe a more powerful solution than is available commercially, teeth may be bleached several shades lighter than their original shade. The trays are fitted to your mouth for precise and uniform application. The discomfort and irritation caused by poorly fitting trays is avoided.

You may think visiting just any dentist will achieve the desired whitening results comfortably and safely. Comfort and safety may be maintained via chairside whitening treatments as administered by a licensed dental professional. Like some so-called brightening toothpastes, in-office whitening can give the illusion that teeth are whitened. Teeth may really look brighter in 60 minutes. However, since many of these in-office procedures are light-based, the teeth are dehydrated and will lose some brilliance as they rehydrate.

For truly whiter teeth and a brighter smile that lasts turn to Mouth Carolina’s at-home bleaching. Call (843)751 4262 to schedule an appointment.