Is Professional Teeth Whitening Worth It? 

Are you unhappy with your smile’s color? Then you might be considering professional teeth-whitening treatments to fix that. 

But since there are a lot of over-the-counter solutions that promise more convenience at a fraction of the cost, you may be wondering if teeth whitening at the dentist’s office is truly worth it. 

Here are five main reasons why it’s better to get your teeth professionally whitened: 

1. Potential Results

Teeth whitening solutions use special bleaching agents such as peroxide to break down the molecules of the stains found on your teeth surface. 

The amount of peroxide or other bleaching agents is much higher in professional kits than in OTC ones. Since the process is controlled by a trained professional, the results you can expect are often more dramatic. 

Professional teeth whitening can remove severe staining and discoloration. OTC kits are much milder and don’t have the same results. 

2. Long-Lasting 

With the right care, you can preserve your newly white smile for 3-5 years or even longer. This is due to the impressive results that professional teeth whitening can offer. 

With OTC kits, since results will be less impressive, further discoloration is easier to spot. 

3. Safety 

Professional whitening is done by the dentist with the patient’s long-term oral health in mind. The process is completely safe and will only result in mildly increased sensitivity for a few days. 

With OTC kits, there is a bigger risk of damaging the teeth if you don’t follow the instructions on the box correctly. Many patients may feel tempted to wear their strips for longer or do multiple sessions back-to-back to get better results. This could lead to enamel damage and gum irritation. 

4. Convenience 

One reason people turn to OTC whitening kits is time. Specifically, they don’t have the time to stop by the dentist’s office for multiple whitening appointments. 

While in-office whitening certainly has its perks, you can also get at-home professional whitening kits. They are just as effective as an in-office treatment, and the treatment is established by a trained professional to ensure your safety.

5. Maintenance 

Maintaining your newly white smile is easy. If you get them professionally whitened, your Poway dentist can offer you a lot of personalized tips on how to keep your results for a long time. 

Some general things you can do to maintain results include:

• Brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily.
• Get routine dental cleanings.
• Use whitening toothpaste from time to time to remove stains.
• Be mindful of highly staining foods and beverages like coffee, tea, berries, beets, etc. 

Get Your Teeth Professionally Whitened in Poway. 

At Smiles by Dr. Leila, you can access both in-office and at-home professional whitening treatments designed to give you the smile you’ve always wanted. 

Schedule a Poway teeth whitening consultation with Dr. Leila online or call us at (858) 668-3390 for more information.