Teeth-Whitening: Professional vs. OTC Treatments

Few good things could be said about teeth stains, but one of the most important ones is that they can often be erased quickly and conveniently with teeth-whitening treatment. Because common teeth stains are often cosmetic and don’t pose a threat to your oral health, you can even find multiple over-the-counter (OTC) products that promise to effectively whiten your teeth. Such options are tempting given their convenience; however, even if your teeth stains are minor, treating them professionally is almost always the best option.

The convenience

Convenience is one of the most attractive benefits of OTC teeth-whitening products. The ability to brighten your smile at home without having to undergo dental treatment can be highly tempting. Most professional teeth-whitening treatments can also be applied at home, and the whitening trays that come with your take-home kit are custom-designed specifically to fit your teeth. By wearing the trays and whitening gel for 1-2 hours per day, you can erase your teeth stains and brighten your smile by several shades, with as much convenient (or more) than OTC whitening treatments promise.

The results

Being as convenient as OTC whitening means that store-bought products have little or no advantage over professional teeth-whitening. That’s even more true when it comes to the results of your treatment. OTC products are diluted by necessity to make them safer for teens and adults of all ages. This also makes them less potent and able to erase your teeth stains, and many people who rely on the products often report being unsatisfied with their results. By contrast, professional-strength whitening is designed to achieve optimal results for your smile, specifically, without causing any harm to the enamel that surrounds and protects your teeth.

The certainty

Besides convenience and results, your dentist’s input may be one of the most important benefits of choosing professional teeth-whitening. If you use a store-bought whitening product, it’s because you have assumed that your teeth’s stains are on their surface, and that whitening is the best option to erase them. With professional treatment, however, we’ll carefully examine your teeth and oral tissues to determine that teeth-whitening is the most appropriate solution. This helps ensure the success of your treatment before it’s even applied.

Benefit from professional teeth-whitening

Professional teeth-whitening can be as convenient as OTC options, but offer a much better chance of success and lower risks of harming your healthy, natural tooth structure. For more information, schedule a visit by calling Syosset Dental in Syosset, NY today at 516-433-2211 or 516-921-1678.