Teeth Whitening Options

Posted on February 27, 2019

Once people are finished with treatment of braces or Invisalign, they often ask about teeth whitening options. There are a couple different ways you can get a brighter, whiter smile after orthodontic treatment. It all depends on your preference!

Bleaching

Bleaching can be done in a professional dental office or in the comfort of your own home. Here are a couple different methods dental offices use to get your teeth looking brighter and more white.

1. Whitening gel and light activation: These results will be done chairside in a practice and will show results almost immediately!
2. Custom mouthpiece with bleaching gel: Your dentist will make a mouthpiece for you to take home and fill with the bleaching gel on your own time. He/she will also direct you on how long and how often to be wearing your bleach trays.  This option is not as instant, but over several days it has proven to whiten teeth and make stains less noticeable.

Non-Bleaching

If bleaching is not the route you want to go with your smile, there are non-bleaching options to consider as well.

1. Whitening toothpaste: There are some toothpastes that have whitening agents in them that help to whiten teeth over time with special chemical and polishing agents. Colgate, Crest, and Pronamel all have great options for whitening toothpaste, along with many others.
2. Professional dental cleaning: making an appointment for your annual cleaning is a good way to keep your teeth looking healthy. Your hygienist will use abrasion and polishing to remove most of the external staining caused by foods.

Just like anything else, results may vary. Some people receive great results from bleaching their teeth, while others struggle with sensitivity. Different methods work for different people. Figuring out what works best for you and your teeth is the trick!