The teeth-whitening industry is expected to hit $8.21 billion in spending by 2026. Tooth whitening has never been more popular. With that, popularity has come a veritable explosion of over-the-counter (OTC) whitening products on store shelves and in digital marketplaces. With all of the choices and marketing, it can be difficult to know what’s safe and effective.
Here are some important things to consider regarding professional teeth whitening versus OTC products:
- Safety standards
- Potential dangers of OTC
- Importance of customization
- Maintaining white teeth
Safety Standards
Anytime you expose your teeth to chemicals in a non-professional setting (outside of a dental office), you want to be sure your teeth aren’t harmed. A recent study about OTC tooth whitening products had researchers testing various types of tooth whiteners and found that several of them reduced the hardness of teeth when acid was present.
The researchers also concluded that the products were often not effective, didn’t disclose all of the chemicals used, and that some contained dangerous levels of hydrogen peroxide. They even predicted that the high levels could cause mouth infections, blistering, burns, nerve damage, gum-shrinking, and tooth enamel damage.
When you’re buying OTC tooth-whitening products, it’s possible to harm your teeth. Even with safe products, there’s a chance of overuse. It can be challenging to determine the appropriate dosage or frequency of use for these products without a dentist’s supervision.
Customization
Part of the problem with OTC products is that they are one-size-fits-all. The trays used to apply the gel won’t fit your teeth perfectly, and therefore, the product won’t be evenly spread across your teeth. Another related issue is that tooth whitening can cause sensitivity, and with OTC products, you can’t really tailor the strength of the tooth whitening product to address it.
Under the supervision of a dentist, you get custom trays that allow you to evenly distribute the whitening gel across your teeth. Your dentist can also work with you to customize the strength of the whitening agent to address any tooth sensitivity you might have. They can also help you find the perfect shade of white. Something that’s more difficult to achieve with store-bought products.
Maintaining White Teeth
Life, aging, and delicious food and drinks happen to the best of us. And all of these things can stain our teeth. There are ways to maintain white teeth while understanding that it’s not possible to stop all staining. Minimizing coffee, wine, and staining foods like red sauce and beets will help, and rinsing your mouth after eating or drinking also helps.
You can also elevate your oral hygiene game by making sure to brush, floss, and use mouthwash after eating or drinking. When drinking something acidic, such as coffee, it is recommended to wait 30 minutes before brushing, as the acid temporarily softens tooth enamel. You can also touch-up your teeth with whitening products. A dentist can help you figure out how often you can safely do this and provide convenient take-home kits.
Considering Tooth Whitening? We’d Love to Help!
At 50th and France Dental Care, we offer the ZoomⓇ take-home whitening system to make your teeth dazzle. If you have tooth sensitivity or a specific whitening timeline for an upcoming event, we offer powerful teeth whitening in Edina, MN, that can be customized to meet your needs. Give us a call to get started.