Teeth Whitening Strips: What to Know Before Buying
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Beautiful and white teeth nowadays are not only an aesthetic value. A well-groomed smile boosts self-confidence, allows confidently building social and professional life, and also indicates care for one's health. However, no matter how carefully daily tooth care is performed, under the influence of various daily habits and environmental factors, tooth enamel over time can lose its natural shine. Similarly, tooth shade is also affected by genetic factors, chronic diseases, medications used daily and other factors.
Therefore, one of the most demanded aesthetic dentistry procedures is professional teeth whitening. However, teeth whitening at home using widely available teeth whitening strips is still a popular method.
But are teeth strips and teeth whitening at home really a safe and effective method, what to consider before using them and how teeth whitening works in the dental office – read about it in the article continuation!
What are Teeth Whitening Strips?
One of the most popular teeth whitening products intended for teeth whitening at home is the US brand Crest teeth strips, but a wide range of such products is available on the market. All promise to achieve sparkling white teeth after just a few uses. Moreover, manufacturers lure with a price that seems a much cheaper solution compared to professional teeth whitening price.
Using the teeth whitening kit and its effect is simple – the product contains thin teeth whitening strips that need to be attached to the teeth for a certain period.
The strips contain a special gel whose composition usually includes substances such as hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide, which penetrate tooth enamel and break down plaque and dyes that color teeth over time. To achieve the desired effect, teeth whitening strips need to be used regularly, in a course, on average 4–7 times.
Are They Really Safe and Effective?
Although teeth whitening strips seem convenient and affordable to many, there are a number of reasons why neither dental hygienists nor dentists recommend their use.
- Low effectiveness: although manufacturers promise enticing results, the effectiveness of these products is significantly lower than professional teeth whitening. In the best case, only a few shades lighter result is achieved, which is not lasting, so the product needs to be used frequently and repeatedly, which significantly harms teeth and oral health.
- Increases tooth sensitivity: substances in teeth strips composition intensely promote tooth sensitivity, which over time can complicate not only daily tooth care, but also eating habits.
- Tooth enamel, gum and oral mucosa damage: at home it is almost impossible to ensure safe use of whitening products. When used regularly, whitening teeth systems cause tooth enamel damage that promotes caries formation, similarly gum and oral mucosa burns can form, creating a favorable environment for gum inflammation, gingivitis and periodontitis development.
- Negative impact on overall health: a large part of teeth whitening strips contain various harmful chemical substances that, when used long-term, harm overall health. Similarly, there is also an allergy risk to some of the substances in the composition.
- Cheaper is not always more economical: to maintain results long-term, teeth strips need to be used frequently, so in the long term expenses can even significantly exceed professional teeth whitening, which provides effective, long-lasting and safe results with one whitening session. Moreover, a considerable amount of money will be spent on tooth and gum damage that may need to be addressed in the dentist's office after using these products.
Photo: freepik.com/Freepik
How Does Professional Teeth Whitening Work?
For teeth whitening to be safe, a consultation is performed before the procedure, during which the specialist evaluates tooth and gum health. Similarly, no longer than a month before the procedure, full oral hygiene is prescribed, which allows achieving a more effective teeth whitening result. Since professional teeth whitening acts only on natural teeth, the specialist will also recommend the most suitable solutions for replacing non-vital teeth and artificial tooth structures for aesthetic and natural final result.
The teeth whitening procedure itself takes about 1.5 hours and depending on the individual tooth shade, allows achieving 5–10 shades lighter tooth tone. Professional teeth whitening systems used in dental offices nowadays ensure not only effective, but also safe results that do not affect tooth enamel, gum and oral mucosa health, moreover are maximally gentle even on sensitive teeth. Moreover, before the procedure, gums and oral soft tissues are covered, thus maximally protecting them from damage.
- At Adoria dentistry, the German-developed professional teeth whitening system Flash is widely used, which is currently recognized as one of the most modern, effective and safest teeth whitening systems in the world, and is based on over 25 years of professional research.
During whitening, whitening gel is applied to the teeth, which is activated with an ultraviolet light device. During the process, the gel's active ingredients act on tooth enamel, creating a whitening effect. Results are visible immediately after the procedure, but the final effect is observed approximately 12–24 hours after whitening.
- To care for teeth also after the procedure, the specialist will recommend the most suitable oral care products, and at Adoria dentistry, professional whitening toothpastes can also be purchased on site.
Photo: freepik.com/Freepik
Professional Teeth Whitening at Adoria Dentistry
Entrust the care of your dental health and beauty to the tooth care professionals at the Health and Beauty Center Adoria! General dentistry, teeth whitening, dental hygiene, dental prosthetics and other dental services all in one place in Riga, A. Čaka Street 70-3!