Are you currently unhappy with the shade of your smile? Many patients these days suffer from stained or discolored teeth, which has led to a saturation of over-the-counter whitening products that are widely available. But the fact of the matter is, most of these store-bought options can’t deliver what they promise on their packaging, and your cosmetic dentist remains the best possible solution for enhancing the brightness of your smile and attracting the attention of those around you! Keep reading to learn more about how some of these store-bought products fall short and why professional teeth whitening treatment is your best bet for noticeably whiter teeth.
Over-the-Counter Whitening Products Don’t Live Up to the Hype
While there is a vast assortment of products on the open market that are intended to whiten teeth, very rarely are they capable of doing what you’d like them to do! Here are some examples of store-bought whitening products that don’t live up to their hype and can leave your smile lacking:
- Whitening toothpaste – These kinds of toothpaste are considered the most effective among at-home options, but they still fall short of what your dentist can accomplish. You can choose one with clinically confirmed effectiveness, but keep in mind that it likely won’t have the same lasting effect compared to what your dentist utilizes.
- Whitening strips – While these items do use similar components as professional systems, they’re often diluted/at much lower concentrations. These products also have the potential to cause mouth sores or hypersensitivity.
- Natural whitening remedies – If you’ve heard that you can effectively whiten your smile with at-home remedies such as lemon juice or activated charcoal, think again! These methods can cause acid erosion or enamel abrasion and are simply not worth it, despite what TikTok or Facebook might tell you!
- Hydrogen peroxide – It’s advised that you never rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide, as the chemical can harm your soft oral tissues.
Professional Teeth Whitening Is the Best Answer
Even though the price of professional teeth whitening is generally greater than store-bought solutions, this higher cost is directly reflected in the results. Many dentists offer both in-office whitening and at-home whitening kits, both of which are completely safe and fully capable of providing spectacular results that store-bought products simply can’t match. You also won’t have to deal with the hassle of buying and testing various products, the lack of professional supervision, or the possibility of experiencing unimpressive or potentially worsened results.
All in all, professional whitening is the clear-cut and better choice compared to over-the-counter whitening products, so if you’re ready to enhance the brightness of your smile, don’t hesitate to give your dentist a call today!
About the Author
Dr. Christine D. Laster has proudly served the dental needs of the Raleigh, NC area for several years! She completed her dental degree at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Dentistry and has spent countless hours seeking continuing education to further hone the level of care she’s able to provide. If you have any questions about the article or would like to schedule a visit with Dr. Laster, you can contact her practice’s website or give them a call for further assistance: (919) 561-6393.