Take-Home Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dental procedure in the U.S. It’s the perfect way to brighten your smile, restore your confidence, and create a dazzling first impression. Thanks to developments in the dental world, it’s now possible to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your home using professional-grade products provided by your dentist. Not only is it a simple process, but it’s also considerably cheaper than the in-office whitening alternative.
What Stains Can I Expect a Take-Home Teeth Whitening Kit to Remove?
Take-home teeth whitening kits can remove the same stains as our in-office teeth whitening procedures. You can also expect to see the improvement or total removal of stains primarily caused by:
- Tobacco use
- The consumption of certain staining foods and beverages, including coffee, red wine, and dark or strongly colored fruits and vegetables
- Aging. Our teeth may take on a yellow, gray, green, or brown hue as we get older
What Stains Won’t Be Removed by Take-Home Teeth Whitening Kits?
Unfortunately, some stains are resistant to teeth whitening. These include:
- Teeth that have suffered trauma that has caused the dentin inside the tooth to darken
- Teeth affected by fluorosis
- Teeth with inorganic stains
- Teeth that are discolored from any form of internal damage
Are Take-Home Teeth Whitening Kits as Successful as In-Office Teeth Whitening Treatment?
Take-home kits are proven to be successful in removing stains and brightening teeth. However, they have a lower dose of the bleaching agent, making it safe for non-professionals to use. This means you may not get the same shade as you would have if you had an in-office treatment. Despite this, many dentists believe take-home whitening kits can produce some of the best long-term results.
Considerations For Take-Home Teeth Whitening Kits
Although professionally dispensed take-home teeth whitening kits are a common and popular cosmetic dental treatment, you should be aware of some considerations.
The results cannot be guaranteed and may vary depending on external factors such as your age, your lifestyle, and the extent of staining present. You may need to bleach your teeth multiple times to achieve your desired result.
Bleaching of any kind is not a permanent solution, although you can do some things to prolong the results and extend the amount of time between bleaching sessions. If you can avoid nicotine, red wine, and other food containing tannins, you should maintain your new brighter smile for longer.
Take-home teeth whitening kits are a cheaper alternative to in-office whitening, but they’re also more expensive than over-the-counter kits. Expect a take-home tray of professional teeth-whitening equipment to cost between $100 to $400.
Are At-Home Teeth Whitening Kits Right for Me?
Some patients may not be suitable candidates for take-home teeth whitening kits. These include but are not limited to:
- Patients who have teeth that have become transparent as part of the aging process
- Patients who have very extensive or intractable staining, as bleaching is unlikely to solve these problems
- Patients who are sensitive to peroxide
- Patients who have ultra-sensitive teeth or gums, which may be irritated by the chemicals used in the whitening process
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding – not enough research has been done on the effect of whitening agents on unborn or nursing babies
If you have any doubts, speak to your dentist, who will be able to advise you of your suitability for teeth whitening.
Types Of Take-Home Teeth Whitening Kits
There is a large variety of take-home teeth whitening kits. Some of the most popular ones are:
- Opalescence Trèswhite Supreme
- Opalescence by Ultradent
- Philips Nite White Turbo
- Philips Zoom! Weekender Kit
- Philips Nite White and Day White ACP
Teeth Whitening Process
The exact procedure for your teeth whitening process will vary depending on which take-home teething whitening kit brand you choose. However, they all contain flexible plastic moulds that are either pre-loaded with bleaching compounds or provided with syringes containing bleaching compounds that you add to the moulds just before use.
These moulds are then slotted onto your teeth and left for some time. Once the allotted bleaching time is complete, you should rinse your mouth thoroughly before assessing your result.
Generally, each kit provides enough bleaching compound for one two-week treatment per year, plus one or two-day touch-ups every four to six months.
