Teeth Whitening Options

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Diego, California, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) January 17, 2012 -- With more options than ever before, teeth whitening is a highly accessible and popular procedure. Teeth whitening can be completed in the dentist's office or completed at home with various whitening kits and products. When completed as directed, teeth whitening is an effective and safe way to brighten your smile.
Teeth Whitening Options
Teeth whitening treatments use a bleaching agent to remove stains from your tooth enamel. The three most common ways to whiten your teeth are:
• In-office whitening treatments at your dentist's office.

• At-home whitening kits provided by your dentist.
• Over-the-counter whitening kits.

In-office teeth whitening provides results quickly. At the dentist's office, a high-concentration whitening peroxide gel is used to whiten teeth in about an hour. The gel is applied for 15 to 20 minutes, three to four times. The advantage of in-office teeth whitening is that you can walk out of the dentist's office with brighter teeth, after only one appointment.

Most dentists also offer take-home whitening trays. Some patients prefer to whiten their teeth in the comfort of their own home. The trays are customized to your teeth, ensuring that all of your teeth are whitened adequately. The trays contain a peroxide gel, and you wear the trays for a certain amount of time each day, for about 10 to 14 days.
Your third option is to purchase over-the-counter teeth whitening from your grocery store or other retailer. The kit may contain whitening strips or trays. The trays are not customized to your teeth, so there is a risk that the surfaces of your teeth will not be evenly whitened.
Toothpaste and other products are sometimes marketed as having a teeth whitening effect. These products typically do not contain the bleaching agent of other teeth whitening options; whitening toothpaste, for example, usually contains a polishing agent.
Safety of Teeth Whitening

The majority of studies have shown that teeth whitening is safe when applied as directed. The most common risks of teeth whitening are:
• Tooth sensitivity
• Gum irritation

These risks are most often temporary, lasting only hours or a couple of days.

If you choose to whiten your teeth with an over-the-counter method, be sure to follow the directions and do not whiten your teeth more frequently than recommended.

For more information about teeth whitening available to people living in San Diego and the surrounding California areas, please visit the website of experienced cosmetic dentist Dr. Mary Walsh-Cole.

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