Would You Bleach Your Teeth?

Our nation is obsessed with white teeth.   From the media, to public figures, to advertising, teeth whitening is everywhere.  Whiter teeth brighten everything about your face and can make you look and feel years younger.  But with so many options on the market and different treatment options available, how do you know which to choose?  Dr. Pankaj Singh, Founder and CEO of Arch Dental, highlights some of the benefits of professionally whitening your teeth:

In office teeth whitening is the most thorough and quickest way of getting the teeth their whitest.

Treatments at a dentist’s office are faster, typically lasting an hour, and the results are more immediate and pronounced.

The concentration of the gel used is much more than what can be found in an over the counter product.  For that reason the over the counter products cannot give the same level of results in a comparable period of time.

One of the drawbacks  of in office  whitening as compared with at home whitening products is an increased risk of tooth sensitivity  due to the higher concentrations of bleach that are used.  Moreover, this sensitivity can linger for a few days after treatment.

Having your teeth professionally whitened is significantly more expensive than do it yourself products, and generally isn’t covered by insurance.

I had my teeth professionally whitened a few years ago.  The results were dramatic, but the sensitivity that I experienced during and after the treatment was significant.  The results lasted several months, but my penchant for coffee and red wine has undone much of the original bleaching.  I think about doing it again, but for me, the sensitivity issue holds me back.  I felt younger and brighter with whiter teeth, so maybe one day I’ll do though the procedure again!

If you are thinking about whitening your teeth, definitely talk with your dentist about it.  He or she may offer the service, or they may be able to refer you to a reputable clinic in your area.