A beautiful white smile is on everyone’s wish list and getting your own set of pearly whites is now much easier than ever. The teeth whitening techniques have improved and there are a number of home kits you can try out. But when it comes to getting your teeth whitened, can high street whitening kits compete with proper cosmetic dental treatments? Here’s a look at the pros and cons of both.
What are High Street Whitening Kits?
The high street is full of different teeth whitening products. The most popular ones include:
- Whitening rinses – you use them like mouthwash, but often for longer periods.
- Whitening toothpaste – you brush your teeth regularly with the paste to receive results.
- Gel strips – these can be applied on top of your teeth and kept in place for up to several hours.
- Whitening trays – a tray is filled with a whitening gel and worn for several hours before being washed away.
All of the above methods can be bought in pharmacies and they require regular use before you are able to see results.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of High Street Whitening Kits
The great thing about teeth whitening kits is naturally the price. You can find cheap products that still work from the high street. Furthermore, you’ll have a lot more flexibility and freedom in deciding when and where you use the products. On the other hand, some of the methods, such as whitening trays and gel strips, can take quite a long time to work. Wearing gel strips in your mouth for hours might not be such a lovely experience, even though these methods don’t typically cause any discomfort. The whitening trays that you buy from the high street also have the disadvantage of being too generic in size. This means that the tray might not fit properly and it can even irritate your gums as a result. Perhaps the biggest thing to know about high street teeth whitening kits is that, although they will whiten the shade of your teeth color, the shade doesn’t drop as drastically as you might expect.
Cosmetic Dental Treatment
On the other hand, a professional dentist or a dental hygienist always performs cosmetic dental treatments. But, there are more available techniques now, so you can choose from different treatment options when you are looking to have your teeth whitened.
The most common teeth whitening methods used by dentists include:
- Laser teeth whitening – a hydrogen peroxide solution is painted onto your teeth and then subjected to a strong light, which speeds up the whitening process. The process can take anything between a few minutes and an hour.
- Hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide treatments – you might also be treated with a gel tray treatment. This includes creating a personal tray for your teeth and filling it with the gel or paste. You can have this treatment either at the dentist’s or continue it at home.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Cosmetic Dental Treatment
The biggest advantage of professional teeth whitening is its effectiveness. You can often see direct results after one or two treatments. Furthermore, the difference in shade is often much more visible with home treatments. Your treatment will be more personalized for instance, and the unique trays will guarantee that your tray fits perfectly and they won’t irritate your gums.
Perhaps the biggest disadvantage could be the price, although cosmetic dental treatments have become much more cost effective. You don’t need to spend a fortune anymore to achieve a beautiful white smile.