When it comes to removing stains and discoloration from your teeth, the struggle is real. That’s probably why American’s spend about $2 billion dollars each year attempting to get them whiter. But before you waste your hard-earned money on expensive and ineffective over-the-counter whitening products, consider the benefits of professional whitening treatments from your dentist.

Not only is professional whitening more effective, it’s also a lot safer for your teeth. In fact, in addition to not working as well, you can easily permanently damage your teeth with OTC products if you’re not careful. Here’s why DIY is so dangerous.

DIY and Tooth Damage

When you get any type of whitening treatment, whether OTC or professional, you put your teeth at risk for heightened sensitivity for at least a few days prior to treatment. This means that even the healthiest of teeth may hurt. Now, if your teeth have cavities or damage, applying whitening products can cause even more severe pain that could not only last a lot longer, but it could also worsen the injury to the tooth.

Thus, when you get a professional treatment from your dentist, you must have your teeth evaluated first. Your dentist is looking for things like gum disease, tooth damage, and tooth decay. While having these oral health problems doesn’t automatically disqualify you from getting them whitened, your dentist will need to correct those issues before proceeding.

When you attempt to whiten your teeth with an OTC kit, you don’t get the benefit of the dental exam before you begin. Thus, you could be putting your teeth at risk without even realizing it, and you may not know there’s a problem until it’s too late.

Other Benefits of Professional Treatment

In addition to allowing your dentist the opportunity to ensure that your teeth are healthy and strong before attempting to treat them, a professional whitening also works a lot faster than OTC products. In fact, in-office treatments can lift up to eight shades of stains and discoloration in about one hour, and professional take-home kits can achieve the same results from the comfort of your own home in just a few weeks. Conversely, OTC products could take months to make a noticeable difference, and still cannot achieve such dramatic results.  Over time your investment adds up, costing you more in the end than if you had just gotten them professionally whitened from the start!

Next Steps

If you’re interested in learning more about professional whitening, contact your dentist today to schedule a consultation. There they will examine your teeth and gums, and if in good health, will give you the green light to begin your treatment. Should you have any oral health issues present, they can schedule you for repairs like cavities, root canals, or gum disease treatment before proceeding.

Remember, if you want a brighter, healthier smile, the first stop should always be your dentist. Once you’ve gotten a clean bill of health, you can proceed with a professional whitening treatment that will keep your teeth healthy while still achieving amazing results.

About Dr. Morgan

Dr. Carol F. Morgan loves helping patients improve their lives through excellent oral health. She is a fellow of the prestigious Las Vegas Institute (LVI) for Advanced Dental Studies, which provides continuing education for cosmetic and neuromuscular dentistry. In addition to providing routine dental care and cosmetic treatments, she also treats patients with TMJ dysfunction, migraine headaches, and jaw and neck pain.

To schedule an appointment for professional whitening at Hampton Roads Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, please visit our website or call us today at 757-412-1400.