Among other things, having brilliantly white teeth denotes good oral health, which explains why those who have them are always more than happy to show off their pearly whites. That said, there are different pathways for achieving a brighter, whiter smile and better overall oral health. One of those ways includes professional teeth whitening treatments with a licensed dentist.
While it might sound ideal, the price of professional teeth whitening treatments can be cost-prohibitive for some people. According to dentaly.org, an online resource for detailed information on a host of dental topics, the average cost of professional teeth whitening in a dentist’s office is between $300 and $1,800. So For those barely making ends meet, such whitening treatments are probably out of the question. Instead, many will likely turn to at-home teeth whitening kits sold at pharmacies and big box stores to achieve a whiter smile at a substantially lower price.
The Difference Between Professional Teeth Whitening and Over-The-Counter Teeth Whitening Kits
The most discernible difference between professional and at-home teeth whitening is the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. And spoiler alert, the former has a higher concentration than the latter. Available data shows that teeth whitening systems available through a dentist contain anywhere from 15 to 43 percent peroxide. Meanwhile, over-the-counter teeth whitening products at most pharmacies and big box stores boast a mere 3 to 20 percent.
But if the cost is the main factor in choosing the over-the-counter variant, you should know that at-home, do-it-yourself teeth whitening kits are only $15 to $199. And they can make one’s teeth marginally whiter, so they are not exactly a waste of money. But at the end of the day, because they have less peroxide, these kits won’t do too much for individuals with severely stained teeth.
Family and Cosmetic Dentists Weigh In on Who Should Consider Over-The-Counter Teeth Whitening Products
Now that we are a little more clear on what separates professional teeth whitening, one of the many aspects of cosmetic dentistry, from at-home teeth whitening kits, let’s discuss which option is best suited for who. If you’re considering the over-the-counter teeth whitening products for a dazzling smile, the following are among the very best, according to most practitioners of family and cosmetic dentistry:
- AuraGlow Teeth Whitening Pen
- Crest 3D White Strips
- Colgate Optic White Teeth Advanced LED Whitening
- Glo Brilliant Teeth Whitening Kit
- Moon Teeth Whitening Strips
- Spotlight Oral Care Teeth Whitening Strips
The peroxide concentration in these various products can make stained teeth marginally whiter. As such, they are ideal for anyone with mildly stained teeth caused by any of the following:
- Coffee
- Dark-colored sodas
- Smoking or using chewing tobacco
- Starchy foods
- Tea
- Wine
To better understand how over-the-counter and professional teeth cleaning treatments work, we should take a moment to familiarize ourselves with what makes up human teeth. In short, teeth comprise an inner dentin layer and a tough, translucent outer enamel layer. When looking at our teeth, the part that makes up its color is the inner dentin.
This inner dentin will be either dazzling white or badly discolored due to smoking, consuming certain foods or beverages, and so on. Hydrogen peroxide in nearly every over-the-counter teeth whitening product works by penetrating through the tough, translucent outer enamel of teeth and then making its way to the inner dentin, which is where it breaks down stains. But this does not happen overnight; on average, most people will have to use over-the-counter teeth whitening products for 3 to 10 days before their teeth become noticeably whiter, say most hygienists well-versed in cosmetic dentistry and teeth whitening.
When Professional Teeth Whitening Is the Better Choice
The mechanics behind how professional teeth whitening treatments work is not too dissimilar compared to at-home treatments in that they also contain hydrogen peroxide, which helps break down stains. However, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in professional teeth whitening treatments is much higher, which means they typically work faster and deliver better results. That said, professional teeth whitening is a good fit for individuals who have deep-seated statins on their teeth that can’t be remedied with run-of-the-mill over-the-counter teeth whitening products.
In-Office vs. Professional At-Home Teeth Whitening Kits
If you decide to go with professional teeth whitening, you will also have to choose between an in-office treatment or a professional at-home whitening kit from your dentist. In-office treatments can leave individuals with dramatically whiter teeth in as little as 60 to 90 minutes, but they will have to watch what they consume afterward. Essentially, they will want to avoid coffee, tea, tomato-based foods, beets, grapes, and other dark-pigmented foods and beverages for 24 hours to ensure their teeth stay looking as white as possible for as long as possible after their treatment.
As far as professional at-home whitening kits, they generally contain about 10 percent hydrogen peroxide and can deliver supremely white teeth in roughly two weeks. Just like professional in-office teeth whitening, it would be a good idea to avoid dark-pigmented food and drinks for at least 24 hours after using these kits. Those who choose this option should carefully follow the instructions put forth by their dentists to get the best results.
Bottom Line
In summary, in-office and professional at-home teeth whitening kits both do a good job when it comes to making teeth several shades whiter. Deciding between the two ultimately comes down to how much an individual wants to spend, how stubborn the stains on their teeth are, and how quickly they want to see results.
