Teeth Whitening - Professional vs. Do It Yourself

It is a very common misconception that we must go to a dentist to achieve the "right" kind of teeth whitening. We have many methods available to us today that really are just as good, if not better than, the professional teeth whitening we are made to think is superior. But which should you choose?

There has been a great deal of change and increased "opportunities", if you will, for the average Joe or Jane to take advantage of this very popular cosmetic procedure. However, this was not always the case. In the early part of the nineteen nineties our only option was to go to the dentist and spend anywhere from five hundred dollars on up towards one thousand dollars to have the much sought after declaration that you also have whiter teeth.

This very expensive procedure also involved a multi step approach. Step one: Your dentist would create a personalized mold of your mouth. Step two: You then wait the typical ten days for your dentist to receive this custom fitted mouth molding back from his special lab. Step three: Come back to the dentist and sit in those lovely dental recliners for one to two hours with the molds in your mouth filled with a peroxide solution. Step four: Repeat step three , anywhere from two to three more times. Step five: Schedule a "touch up" in six months with the receptionist. Step six: Leave dental office with whiter teeth, (usually) and a very hefty bill to try and pay off within six months, so you can start all over again!

p>We now have four methods available to us. Of course the typical dental visit as described in detail above, or the much more pocket book friendly do it from home approach, with three different alternatives, is also available. You have the do it yourself version of the expensive plastic moldings that you form and fill yourself. You have the brush on approach. And then you have the strips. However, you need to be concerned about one factor far important than just the price tag for any one of the alternatives. This is the ingredients themselves.

The common main ingredient in all approaches is peroxide. Teeth whitening is achieved by the peroxide letting oxygen into the enamel and it then bleaches the colored substances. This is how it all works. But, some approaches use alcohol and glycerin. The reason for the alcohol is to dry the brushed on gel so it stays on teeth. With all of the saliva and movement that goes on in your mouth, it does not stay put anyway. The alcohol can actually cause bad breath and is bad for your gums. Then you have the glycerin based products. Glycerin is harmless on it own. But mixed with the peroxide it actually dries out the tooth enamel and literary causes the sensitivity that so many have with teeth whitening.

Whether you choose a professional or do it yourself method, look at more than just the cost of the desired results. You need to be careful to make sure that your teeth whitening approach does not include ingredients that actually cause you more problems.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Teeth Whitening