Professional bleaching produces better results.

The ultimate goal of whitening your teeth is to have a brilliantly white and beautiful smile. With that in mind, make sure that you are using a whitening solution that is powerful enough to do the trick. Teeth bleaching works when you apply a whitening solution that contains some type of peroxide. The solution we use in our dental office is significantly stronger than what is sold in the stores. Simultaneously, it will penetrate below the surface of your enamel to remove deeper stains. Much of what you buy in the store will only remove surface stains and leave your teeth looking a lighter version of yellow. If you live in the Los Gatos area, you can have whiter teeth, faster, by scheduling the teeth whitening appointment at our dental office.

Should I whiten my teeth at home?

When comparing the home vs. dentist whitening solutions, consider what you are trying to accomplish. If your teeth are white but are starting to turn slightly yellow, you may see some positive results with a simple store bought solution. However, if your teeth have any stains, it is far better to skip this step and head straight to our office for a professional teeth whitening. If you do try something at home, there are a few things you should be aware of.

How long the solution remains on your teeth is important. When it comes to teeth bleaching, the whitening solution needs to be on your teeth long enough to work. This is why something like a whitening pen or whitening toothpaste can't possibly make much of a difference. The solution is washed off almost immediately. Simultaneously, when you buy whitening strips in the store, they tend to slip out of place and also lose their effectiveness.

The solution needs to get below the surface. Any time you look at whitening products, look for ones that say they penetrate below the enamel. When you schedule a professional bleaching, this will happen every time. When you buy something at the store, however, it is rare. Without penetrating below the enamel, you will never truly remove all of the stains.

If you would prefer to whiten your teeth at home, you can still have a professional teeth whitening. You can have whitening trays created at the dentist and wear them at home while using professional whitening solution. This will deliver impressive results and be more comfortable than any trays that you can buy in the store. Since store-bought whitening trays are made to fit everyone, they are typically loose, and the solution will leak out of them and into the back of your throat. This is entirely uncomfortable and completely avoidable when you use trays created by a dentist. If you live in Los Gatos or the surrounding area, we invite you to visit our dental office to see how easy professional whitening is and how much more effective it can be than a store-bought solution.

What you should know about natural teeth bleaching solutions.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that if something is natural, it must be good for them. This is simply not the case. Natural teeth whitening can actually damage your teeth through the process of erosion. Most natural remedies use acid to remove the stains or yellowing. For example, using lemons or limes. The problem is that anything high in acid content can permanently damage the enamel on your teeth so while they may look whiter, they may also become more sensitive.

Warning!

Do not try teeth bleaching at home without reading this warning. It is possible for you to permanently damage your teeth when whitening them at home. Your teeth have a hard layer of enamel on the surface. They arrive this way, and once your enamel is gone, you cannot replace it. Underneath your enamel is porous dentin that contains your nerve endings. If the enamel wears away, the dentin will be exposed, and your teeth will become sensitive. Eating and drinking with sensitive teeth can be incredibly uncomfortable and the only way to permanently fix your teeth is to have a cosmetic procedure like bonding or having dental veneers or crowns placed on your teeth. The biggest problem that people can have, when whitening their teeth, is overexposure to the whitening solution. If you place teeth bleaching solution onto your teeth for too long or you whiten your teeth too many times in a short period, you can cause your enamel to erode – permanently damaging your teeth. This is why scheduling a professional teeth whitening is so important. As Brent C. Lay, DDS, we will make sure that your teeth are whitened correctly by using the right amount of solution and removing it before reaching the point of irritation. If you are looking to save money, at-home whitening may seem alluring. However, the risk that you run of damaging your teeth could create much higher expenses down the road. If you live in the Los Gatos area, schedule a professional bleaching by calling 408-500-0813 so that you can receive the results that you want without the risk.