Whitening strips are among the most popular health and beauty products in San Diego. Brightening up your pearly whites is a great way to give your smile a boost, and with all the over-the-counter options, there’s seemingly no reason not to pick one up and try it out. However, this “quick fix” that can be found in most grocery and drugstores may not be the smile maker you’re hoping for. Dr. Timothy Collins wants you to be informed about every aspect of dental health, so here’s a guide you can refer to before making the decision to whiten your smile.
Teeth Whitening: The Basics
Nowadays, there are three basic types of in-home whitening: toothpastes and mouthwashes, whitening strips, and gel trays. While whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes are the least expensive products on the market, they are also the least effective at creating a noticeable change in the short-term. This is because they don’t have a significant amount of the active ingredients in most whitening products, which are hydrogen or carbamide peroxide. However, they are effective at removing surface stains. On the other hand, gel trays and whitening strips can produce some serious whitening in as little as a week.
How Whitening Strips Work
Whitening strips are all the rage in San Diego, so we will focus on how they work and what kind of results you can expect from them. Whitening strips are made from a flexible plastic material called polyethylene. Each strip is coated with hydrogen and/or carbamide peroxide and an adhesive to keep the strips in place. Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes as it comes in contact with your teeth, which bleaches teeth, making the surface whiter. Carbamide peroxide works the exact same way, but has an acid that breaks up stains as well.
How Long Do Whitening Strips Take to Produce Results?
Treatment times vary from brand to brand, but the average whitening strip package comes with 28 strips, for two weeks of whitening (one per night per row of teeth). Usually, the directions instruct San Diego residents to wear the strips for about half an hour before going to bed. Most people that try whitening strips notice an improvement in the whiteness of their teeth. However, they are not effective on tetracycline (antibiotic) or fluorosis (fluoride poisoning) stains, and they will not change the color of dental restorations.
Professional Whitening
Although they’re more expensive, professional whitening treatments are much more effective and safer. Complete Dental Health offers custom fit trays with an advanced gel, which makes a dramatic difference after three to five 15-minute treatments – from the comfort of your own home! This is a preferred option for the large community of patients who’ve had negative whitening experiences in the past. Teeth retain their brighter white shade for a longer period of time, and the occurrence of hypersensitivity is reduced.
Dr. Timothy Collins of Complete Dental Health can help you become the owner of a radically whiter smile. Give us a call today!
Services We Offer
General Dentistry
– Oral Hygiene
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– Smile Makeovers
– Veneers
– Teeth Whitening
– Cosmetic Bonding
– Contouring & Shaping
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Invisalign®
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