People feel more confident when they have bright, white teeth.
Especially around the holiday season, it’s a great idea to seek out whitening to improve the appearance of teeth. Luckily, there are several different options when it comes to noticeable and lasting brightening of teeth. Both professional whitening and at-home products are available.
Which should you choose? Each has advantages and disadvantages.
Over the Counter Teeth Whitening
“OTC” whitening of the teeth is the most convenient option. You can do it all from the comfort of your bathroom and it usually takes only a few minutes a day to go through the required steps.
OTC whitening products are generally inexpensive and do produce results.
However, it may take weeks or even months before you notice a difference in your teeth. To maintain results, you might find yourself using products on the long term. These costs can mount.
Although you won’t have to go to the dentist, some people consider it inconvenient to have to keep track of whitening strips or gels every day. And, unfortunately, there is a possibility of unexpected reactions to the chemicals in these products, which can cause mouth pain.
Over the counter teeth whitening can be a good option if you have plenty of time. If you are in a hurry or you need exceptional brightening, then a professional treatment may be your best bet.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is an exceptional choice for people who need to see amazing results quickly. Professional care may be the only option if you have teeth with deep, serious staining.
Professional whitening produces noticeable results after just one visit. These results may last anywhere from six months to two years depending on the care you take to maintain them.
Professional whitening is a bigger upfront investment than OTC whitening. That said, you can save many hours afterwards as you don’t have to worry about at-home products. In the long run, you might even save money compared to all the other whitening products you would buy.
Most people choose professional whitening if they need to prepare for an event like a wedding or reunion in a short time. It’s comforting to know immediate results are virtually guaranteed.
While either option can work well, it’s wise to consider professional whitening before you make the long-term commitment required by an OTC approach.
