If you’re wanting whiter teeth, there are a number of options available to you, including whitening strips, take-home whitening trays, and professional tooth whitening services. It’s important to consider the different types of whitening and how they could impact your dental health. If you’re trying to whiten your teeth on a budget and considering whitening strips there are some important things to know before using them so in this article, we take a look at the truth behind whitening strips.
How Do Whitening Strips Work?
Whitening strips work by applying gel containing hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide directly onto the teeth. This gel is then held in place by the plastic strip and left on the teeth for the required time. The whitening gel penetrates the tooth to start the whitening process. Whitening works through the process of dehydration and overuse can be damaging to your teeth. Because teeth are porous, the peroxide gel pulls the stain molecule attached to the water inside your tooth, however, store-bought whitening strips often don’t contain the necessary strength. For significant results, you may have to use whitening strips several times.
Do Whitening Strips Damage Your Teeth?
Whitening strips can cause damage to your teeth, especially if they are used too often. They can permanently erode the enamel of the teeth, which then leaves the nerves in your tooth more exposed. This could lead to other dental problems like tooth sensitivity and tooth decay which require further dental treatment. Whitening strips aren’t as strong as the chemicals used in professional tooth whitening gel used in a dentist’s office, however, this also means that they need to be applied more frequently.
Professional Level Whitening
Many of our patients who have previously used whitening strips have been disappointed in the lightening they achieve, with barely noticeable results. This is because the chemicals used in whitening strips aren’t as concentrated as those used in professional whitening services. It’s important that more concentrated solutions are only used by professionals and applied directly to the teeth to ensure every area of the tooth is covered. This can be harder to achieve with whitening strips as they can’t lighten nooks and crevises they can’t reach. It is also important to avoid placing whitening strips on your gums as this can cause serious damage.
Custom Dental Care
As dentists, we often find that custom, personalized dental treatments can be far more effective than one-size over the counter whitening treatments. Your dentist can work with you to create a unique whitening solution, which could involve multiple appointments or just a one-off visit. Many people find that it can be difficult to keep the strips in place and to make sure every area of the tooth is covered without any gum contact.