Home or in-office teeth whitening: which is better?

Home teeth whitening: what is it?

First of all, it is extremely important to understand that the product (gel) for teeth whitening at home must be safe!

Proper home whitening using an individual tray is carried out under the supervision of a dentist, who selects a teeth whitening agent and other necessary preparations for the procedure, taking into account the condition of hard dental tissues and taking into account the patient’s medical history, such as tooth sensitivity and gum disease. Concepts from the category of the best teeth whitening products are not entirely correct, because the selection of a dental whitener is a purely individual process.

This differs from in-office whitening in that the procedures are carried out at home, by the patient himself, but following all the doctor’s recommendations. This approach guarantees against possible complications that arise when using “traditional methods of tooth whitening.”

Types of mouth guards

When purchasing a standard or thermoplastic mouth guard, the client receives a whitening gel whose active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide. It also contains fluorine and potassium nitrate, which help reduce enamel sensitivity.

The gel for filling individual trays is prepared by the dentist. The doctor uses the desired concentration of hydrogen peroxide and then adds substances that reduce tooth sensitivity. The amount of finished paste is designed for 2 weeks.

If there is significant yellowing of the enamel, dentists recommend using a whitening gel with a high concentration of carbamide peroxide, as well as a composition aimed at remineralizing the enamel. The latter substance is worn on the surface of the teeth after the tray is removed.

Contraindications to whitening with trays

In order not to harm the health of your teeth and gums, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications to whitening:

• age under 18 years;
• intolerance to substances contained in the whitening gel;
• pregnancy and lactation;
• various diseases of teeth and gums;
• presence of piercing in the mouth area;
• less than 4 weeks after tooth extraction.

There are three types of trays used for teeth whitening.

Standard

They are produced in a factory and have a shape that corresponds to the average characteristics of the jaws without taking into account individual characteristics. Such mouthguards have a minimal cost, but their use is not always convenient. Each person has his own distinctive features of the dentition, and since the mouthguards are available in one size, it often happens that the gel can leak out due to a loose fit to the teeth and lead to burns of the mucous membranes.

Individual

How to achieve the desired result? All proposed methods can be divided into two large groups:

• office whitening;
• whitening at home.

Whitening in a doctor’s office is professional and the following types can be distinguished:

• photobleaching;
• laser;
• chemical.

In turn, when it comes to whitening the house, we mean one of the following options:

• whitening toothpastes;
• rinse aids;
• whitening strips;
• trays with gel.

It is the latter that will be discussed in more detail.

Features of home teeth whitening

According to the mechanism of action, all professional teeth whiteners included in whitening systems for home use are similar to photo whitening and laser whitening. If a professional home teeth whitening system is used, then in all cases oxidation of dentin and lightening of enamel occurs.

However, there are features for home whitening procedures:

1. Do-it-yourself tooth whitening takes much longer than in-office whitening, from two weeks to several months.
2. The concentration of the gel for home sessions is 2-3 times less than for in-office procedures and ranges around 10% hydrogen peroxide and 15-20% urea.
3. All manipulations during the procedure are done independently, for example, placing the gel in the mouth guard, applying the mouth guard to the teeth, removing the remaining gel and other actions.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of this method of enamel lightening are:

• availability of kits for all segments of the population;
• gentle whitening with low concentration of active substance;
• the ability to perform the procedure where and when it is convenient for a person, without visiting a dental office;
• lightening the enamel by several shades;
• a small number of contraindications and side effects compared to professional systems.

Among the disadvantages, one can highlight some danger of dental hypersensitivity, as well as a ban on using the product in the above cases.

Video: how to use whitening strips?

Depending on the chosen type and manufacturer, the cost of mouth guards and gels will vary. How much do these sets cost on average? If we talk about standard options, the entire system will cost 2-3 thousand rubles.

Thermoplastic mouthguards are made of more expensive material, which is why they cost more - 4500-6000. And individual ones, created from casts and to order, and even with separate preparation of the gel, can cost 7-15 thousand, depending on the clinic.

I use mouth guards like this all the time. I don't need to lighten the enamel much, so the effect they give is quite enough. Moreover, the entire procedure takes place at home in comfortable conditions.

Periodically, I use weak gel solutions in drops at night in courses. The result is achieved so unnoticed, as if it goes without saying that you don’t even need to visit the dentist. The smile is always bright and snow-white.

I bought this set and my teeth immediately began to fall out. I have a reaction to cold and hot food, I can’t drink coffee at all! The doctor said that initially my enamel was thin and cracked in places, which is why this effect began. So, without prior consultation, you should not do whitening.

Preparation for home teeth whitening

For safe and effective home whitening, the patient must:

1. Get a dental consultation
2. Remove plaque from teeth with the help of a hygienist
3. Order a custom mouthguard for the gel from your doctor.
4. Together with your doctor, choose and receive a professional home dental whitening system
5. Assess the chances and time frames for obtaining the planned result
6. Determine further therapy and enamel care that will support the achieved result.

What's special

Before you start lightening your enamel at home, you need to go through the preparatory stage in the clinic.

It includes:

If the patient does not want to use a standard mouth guard, but prefers to purchase a product that optimally matches the characteristics of his bite and takes into account other nuances, the doctor will suggest taking impressions of the upper and lower jaws. Based on these impressions, the dental technician will make the aligners.

If a patient is diagnosed with increased enamel sensitivity, the dentist will advise using a special gel to protect the teeth.

Custom-made mouth guards improve the results of the whitening procedure, since the design allows for tight contact of the surface of the dentition with the gel mass. In addition, unnecessary overuse of bleaching agent is avoided. Custom aligners can be used multiple times, so it makes sense to order them once. In the future, you will only have to spend money on a home system.

How to do home teeth whitening?

Each manufacturer of teeth whitening systems has its own instructions and specifics for using the drugs. But there are general fundamental points for any home whitening systems.

How is teeth whitening done with trays in Moscow and other cities?

Based on the impressions, individual trays for teeth whitening are made. Before this, oral hygiene is carried out using the paste from the kit, then the gel is applied to the individual whitening tray, evenly distributed on its outer vestibular surface. Next, the tray is fixed to the upper or lower jaw, and the excess squeezed out gel is removed. The mouthguard is kept in the mouth according to the instructions, on average from 25 to 50 minutes. After the end of the session, you need to clean the oral cavity from any remaining gel and rinse your teeth thoroughly. Professional home teeth whitening with trays containing the opalescence home whitening system, patient reviews confirm this, is a fairly effective and safe procedure.

Mouth guard for teeth whitening, photo

Professional whitening at home

Professional home whitening has nothing to do with amateur performance and the use of folk remedies such as activated carbon, soda and other abrasive substances.

What is this? Home whitening:

• involves using the same gel at home as for whitening in the clinic, but with a lower concentration of peroxide.
• recommended for maintaining and improving the results obtained after a similar procedure in a dental office.
• Perfectly suited in situations where radical high-speed techniques are not required, as well as in cases of increased tooth sensitivity.

Differences between home and office whitening

According to the principle of their effect, professional home whitening systems are no different from photo whitening and in-office laser whitening. The methods differ in a number of technological aspects. First: auto-apply. Patients carry out bleaching themselves (naturally, after prior consultation with the attending physician).

Second: intensity of impact. As already noted, home whitening uses lower concentrations of urea – 16–22% or hydrogen peroxide – 7–10%. In light of this, this technique is also called gentle teeth whitening.

Third: time. To achieve the effect when using home whitening, it takes much longer (sometimes up to several weeks).

If you decide to use this technique, let me give you some advice.

First steps

It should be clarified that professional home whitening systems are not sold in pharmacies. Accordingly, a visit to the dentist is inevitable. The doctor will assess the condition of the oral cavity, exclude contraindications and select the most suitable system.

After this, armed with the recommendations of a specialist and all the necessary medications, you go to a dental hygienist: whitening will not work if there is tartar and plaque on the teeth.

Application

In general, before using home whitening, you just need to read the instructions and remember the dentist’s recommendations. Don't smile - each home whitening system works according to its own principle. Nevertheless, we will try to highlight the main points characteristic of most systems.

• Brush your teeth thoroughly with the toothpaste from the set or, if it is not available, any other one.
• Apply the whitening gel evenly into the tray closer to the outer surface.
• Put on the mouth guard and apply light pressure to distribute the gel. If it gets beyond the mouthguard, carefully remove the excess with your finger or toothbrush. After this, you need to rinse your mouth without swallowing.
• You must wear the mouthguard exactly for the time specified in the instructions. After removing the mouth guard, rinse your mouth again.

Day or night whitening?

Daytime whitening usually involves two sessions – morning and evening. The so-called “night” option involves keeping the mouthguard on your teeth for 1 hour at any time of the day. This is convenient for those who are unable to allocate time strictly in the morning and evening.

Efficiency

Regardless of the chosen technique, you need to remember: the whitening effect is individual. The color change, as manufacturers promise, can vary from 4 to 10 shades (on the VITA scale).

There is an opinion that home whitening is less effective. There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, the course is drawn out over time: the patient gets used to the new shade and does not notice the gradual change. Secondly, after receiving the first results, patients begin to be lazy, sessions are carried out irregularly or are simply abandoned.

Advantages

With one significant “minus” (“long”), home whitening systems have a number of significant “pluses”.

• If any unpleasant sensations occur, you can (and should!) immediately interrupt the procedure. This is a guarantee of harmless teeth whitening.
• Teeth are whitened both externally and internally.
• Relatively low cost.

Helpful information

During a course of home professional whitening, it is necessary to maintain a strict “transparent” diet: strictly exclude tobacco smoke, coffee and other coloring products.

If during the procedure strange, unpleasant, painful sensations appear, the session must be interrupted immediately and contact your dentist for advice. Most likely, you will be advised to pause procedures for a certain time, reduce the duration of wearing aligners or the number of procedures.

If you swallow the gel, don’t worry, it is not dangerous to the body.

After the session, white spots may appear on the teeth. Don't worry: the color will even out over time.

Is the game worth the candle?

Availability and low cost have already been cited above as a serious “plus”. Prices for professional home whitening systems start from 5,000 rubles. The simpler, more effective and convenient, the more expensive it is. Additional equipment (miniature lamps, special headphones) can also add to the cost. Don't forget about the initial consultation, professional oral hygiene and the manufacture of aligners.

The effect of home teeth whitening

In general, at-home systems are less effective than in-office or in-office whitening. There are several reasons:

1. It takes longer to achieve results.
2. Errors are possible when carrying out procedures on your own, for example, failure to comply with the time and frequency throughout the entire dental whitening cycle.
3. The concentration of homemade gel is two to three times lower than that of laser whitening gel.
4. In difficult cases, for example with gray teeth or fluorosis, the result is most often unsatisfactory, in contrast to the use of laser whitening or the installation of ceramic veneers and lumineers.
5. In the case of removed dental nerves, the home method cannot be used at all, because endobleaching is required in a dental clinic.

Home teeth whitening before and after, photo

How to use it correctly at home?

In order not to harm your health, you should strictly follow the instructions. After all, the composition contains quite aggressive, potent substances that cannot be kept on the teeth for longer than a certain time, otherwise, instead of a dazzling smile, you can get the opposite effect and end up with many problems with your teeth or gums.

Read also: Which toothpaste is best for whitening teeth?

It is important to follow the recommendations for using mouth guards:

• always pay attention to the concentration of peroxide in the composition; the higher it is, the shorter the period of wearing them should be;
• read the instructions before first use and watch how long you keep the product on your teeth;
• It is advisable to initially carry out high-quality cleaning of stone and plaque so that the result is complete and long-lasting;
• Before each session, you need to treat your teeth with ordinary hygiene products;
• remember that the result from this type of whitening is not instantaneous; you cannot count on it earlier than after two weeks of constant use of the trays;
• In order for the effect to take hold, you need to give up smoking and coloring products at least for a while;
• be sure to ensure that there is not too much gel and that it does not get on the mucous membrane.

Benefits of home teeth whitening

The main advantages of the home whitening method are:

1. Affordability.
2. The ability to stop procedures at any time if complications arise, for example, if enamel sensitivity occurs, to cold or hot. After coating the enamel with fluoride varnish and getting rid of sensitivity, the dental whitening procedure can be continued.
3. Teeth are whitened both from the outside and from the inside.
4. Choose a convenient time for the procedure, evening afternoon or morning.

Is teeth whitening a harmful procedure?

As one medieval doctor said, “All poison is just a matter of dose.” The same can be said here. It is no secret that there is absolutely no benefit from bleaching in the medical sense. But there will be no harm from a competently carried out procedure. Suffice it to say that in the USA the bleaching procedure is very popular, and is generally equated to hair lightening, because... they even carry it out in shopping centers, not seeing any sedition in it. Therefore, if you really want to, bleach it. Only under the supervision of a doctor. In addition, the teeth on which the gel will be applied must be healthy, they should not have leaky fillings or caries. The dentist should check all this before you go into all serious troubles. He should also choose the best whitening method specifically for you and your teeth . Suggest the correct scheme for using products for home use, explain the features of dental care, etc. and so on. In general, conduct a full briefing and control. Only in this case the procedure will be as safe as possible and will bring nothing but a refreshed, white-toothed smile (if you are dreaming of it).

Teeth whitening looks so unpretentious and mundane in many shopping centers in the United States. While your wife is replenishing her wardrobe, and her beloved mother-in-law is replenishing her refrigerator, you can lie down and benefit your appearance.

Limitations of home teeth whitening

To achieve the desired result and prevent complications, certain restrictions must be observed when whitening your teeth at home.

During the entire procedure, you must refrain from eating foods that stain your teeth, such as blueberries, raspberries, or cranberries. You cannot smoke or drink dry red wine. You also need to refrain from eating too hot and cold foods. It is also necessary to carry out all preventive measures to maintain the achieved effect for the first two to three weeks after completing the entire cycle of whitening procedures.