How Reliable are Do-It-Yourself Teeth Whiteners?

Do-it-yourself teeth whitening is not very reliable and certainly does not yield professional results. If you must use one of these products or systems, make sure that you use one that's been approved by the ADA. Home remedies or untested products might cause more problems than they solve.

That said, at-home, DIY dental whitening does have some applications. We will go over them in this article.

If you need something that you know will work, our Ellicott City dentist office has a full range of the latest procedures for teeth whitening. Just give us a call and tell us your needs, and we will try to fit you in as soon as possible.

At-Home Kits, Whitening Toothpastes, Abrasives

Variety is one of the reasons it's difficult to claim that DIY whitening is reliable. Apart from the fact that even the best DIY products fail to meet professional standards, there's also a range of brands and techniques available to a home cosmetic dentist. All of these options have varying levels of effectiveness.

For example, take whitening toothpaste. These are popular, but, since the surface of the tooth is not completely smooth, people have different levels of staining, and brushing habits differ from one person to another, the level of whitening is not reliable.

Relatively Low Speed of DIY Products

DIY products are often relatively slow in addition to their spotty reliability. It might make sense to use whitening toothpaste or mouthwash if your dentist recommends it between visits. However, if you need any sort of dramatic, even results, DIY kits are probably not your best option.

For quick results, make an appointment with the dentist. You might need to plan ahead a little bit to get the scheduling right, but you will get a reliable level of whitening at a predetermined time. This makes professional whitening perfect for things like photo shoots, weddings, and job interviews.

Safety and Effectiveness for Deep Stains

You might assume that deeper stains require more of a DIY product or technique. This is not always the case. In fact, this reasoning could lead to side effects that would not occur in a professional setting.

Deep or dark stains require a professional touch. Your teeth will probably need to be professionally cleaned and then whitened, but the result will usually be a drastic improvement.

If it turns out that you still do not have the smile you were hoping for — if enamel damage was the cause of the stain, for example — other options might available to you. A professional dentist will know when to stop with whitening and offer other solutions, potentially avoiding costly and painful damage to your teeth and gums.

You might be surprised how easy and accessible professional teeth whitening is — it's non-invasive and it's one of the least costly cosmetic dental procedures out there. Please give us a call at 410-465-3021 to schedule an appointment.