{"id":209,"date":"2022-06-14T11:48:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-14T11:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marltoncosmeticdentist.com\/blog\/?p=209"},"modified":"2022-07-25T23:48:29","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T23:48:29","slug":"professional-or-store-bought-teeth-whitening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marltoncosmeticdentist.com\/blog\/2022\/06\/professional-or-store-bought-teeth-whitening\/","title":{"rendered":"Which is Better: Professional Teeth Whitening or Store-Bought?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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So, let\u2019s say you want at-home teeth whitening<\/a> to improve your smile. That way, you\u2019ll get to remove your tooth stains while keeping your preferred schedule. However, you don\u2019t know whether to choose a store-bought whitening kit or one from your dentist. After all, what\u2019s the difference between the two? Is one more effective than the other? Until you answer these questions, you can\u2019t make an informed decision. That said, read on to learn the differences between these two whitening methods and why you should visit your dentist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Do Store-Bought Whitening Kits Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Store-bought whitening kits use two different approaches: bleaching and abrasives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bleaching method tries to whiten teeth by using bleach to color enamel white. Over-the-counter examples are bleaching trays, whitening strips, and similar items. These products are peroxide-based and usually have hydrogen and carbamide peroxide at low levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the name suggests, the \u201cabrasives\u201d method uses abrasive materials to \u201cscrub away\u201d tooth stains. Products that try it are whitening toothpaste, gum, and mouthwash. Using these items supposedly results in whiter teeth after a few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OTC whitening products tend to be less expensive than at-home or in-office approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do Pro Take-Home Whitening Kits Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dentists are pretty careful when giving whitening kits to their patients. First, they\u2019ll examine your smile to ensure it\u2019s healthy and infection-free. Next, they\u2019ll take impressions of your mouth to create customized plastic trays. Once the trays are ready, your dentist will instruct you on how to apply whitening gel to them at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professional whitening kits use large amounts of bleaching ingredients. For instance, the concentration of carbamide peroxide in at-home kits ranges from 10% to 38%. As a result, patients only need to wear their gel-filled trays for an hour a day over two weeks. Afterward, teeth will be anywhere from six-to-eight shades whiter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why You Should See Your Dentist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You should see your dentist for a whitening kit rather than use a store-bought one. Problems with the latter type include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n