The Best Way to Whiten Your Teeth

Tooth whitening is a major enterprise these days, with a multitude of products and techniques all promising to help give you a gleaming, white smile. In fact, pharmacies, big box stores, and the internet all provide so many different options that it can be difficult to know which ones can provide the whitening you need. The problem is that it can be expensive to try each of these solutions to find out which ones are best for your whitening needs. The good news is that there is a better way, because in-house dental whitening remains the single best way to whiten your teeth.

Do Over-The-Counter Products Work?

 Of course, when we say that professional dental whitening is the best option, that’s not to imply that the over-the-counter, at-home options are ineffective. The reality is that many of those whitening toothpastes, strips, gels, and other cleaning and whitening systems can be a viable way to lighten your teeth by a few shades. They also serve as a viable solution for maintaining whiter teeth between professional cleanings. Still, most experts agree that professional dental treatments offer the optimal whitening solution for most patients. Here’s why: Effective whitening solutions use bleaching agents like peroxide to lighten the teeth and mitigate discoloration. Naturally, these agents can be dangerous in high concentrations, which is why those over-the-counter products use lower concentrations of peroxide. OTC whiteners are designed to be weaker, because peroxide bleaches can cause serious damage to the gums in higher concentrations. An in-office dental whitening provides the protection you need for your teeth and gums. Dentists can use those higher-concentration bleaching agents to achieve better results. And because they perform these procedures in a controlled environment where safety is a primary concern, your gums and teeth receive the protection they need to look and feel their best.

What About Those Widely-Advertised Natural Whitening Methods?

You might be wondering why we haven’t mentioned any of the common natural solutions that are advertised all over the internet. Thanks to the ubiquity of social media and online advertising, it sometimes seems like there’s a proposed natural solution for every problem under the sun. For example, some people swear by techniques that use things like lemon juice, charcoal, and even apple cider vinegar as whitening agents. Unfortunately, those ideas are considered risky, and dental experts recommend that patients avoid them to protect your teeth.  The truth is that there is no real substitute for professional teeth whitening from a qualified dental team. Your teeth are too important to leave to chance, and there’s no reason to waste money trying dozens of different over-the-counter products in search of one that works for you. When you need the best tooth whitening in midtown Manhattan, you should always rely on the experienced dental team at Ebenezer Dental. That’s the best way to guard against unforeseen complications, protect your tooth enamel and your gum tissue, and guarantee that you get the perfectly bright smile you deserve.