The Facts on OTC Teeth Whitening Products
Everyone wants white teeth. They are a sign of health and youth. Teeth bleaching and other whitening methods were at one time strictly the provenance of dentists, but less potent consumer versions began making their way onto store shelves in the early 00’s. Since that time pharmacies and big box stores have carried these whitening products that promise to whiten smiles over time. The truth is that many of them do work and do contain some of the same formulas, although to a lesser degree as whitening formulas used by dentists. However, depending upon the brand they can be difficult to apply evenly (whitening strips) and also require that days are not skipped. They are a cheap alternative because they are less effective than the products and treatments used by your dentist. This is an undeniable fact about cost versus value. They are also a one-size-fits all approach to teeth whitening when the truth is that teeth discolor for multiple reasons: age, diet, habits, and health. Dentists will try to first determine why teeth are discolored before applying a treatment, because the truth is that whitening strips won’t work on all teeth.
Your Dentist can focus on specific diagnosis
A dentist will try to, first, determine the cause and then apply a remedy. Teeth whitening solutions, light therapy, veneers—all of these are at your dentist’s disposal. What an over the counter can do for you is to make your teeth whiter than they were previously, albeit slowly, or maintain the whitening treatment you received in your dentist’s office. Whitening strips, toothpaste, mouthwash, and other OTC products are very good at maintaining treatments, and recommended for this reason.
There is no getting around the fact that cheaper product produce less effective results. Your dentist does have inexpensive whitening solutions you ought to check out first, but if that is not possible you can at least receive some results from the OTC solutions. It will take longer, your teeth will never get as bright a white as with a more robust solution, but these products do reduce some coloration. Remember if you do choose this route to follow the instructions carefully and maintain the routine suggested on the back of the package.
