I am trying to whiten my teeth from home instead of using the Zoom method that my dentist uses. I came across something called Premium Home Whitening. Can you tell me if it is safe and effective? I don’t want to waste my money.
Craig
Dear Craig,
I took a look at this and will give you what I like and don’t like about it. First, I’ll go over their special light. I don’t think this actually does anything to benefit the whitening and is simply a piece of psychological manipulation. That annoyed me and I was dubious that the rest of it would be any better. However, they surprised me on one aspect— the whitening ingredient. They use 35% carbamide peroxide. This is a valid teeth whitening agent and, under the right conditions, will do a good job whitening your teeth.
Unfortunately, I am a bit concerned the the remainder of the product hinders that. Here’s why. The big problem is the whitening trays they have you use. They’re going to be a bit loose, which compromises effectiveness and safety. When you get your teeth whitened with a dentist, they provide you with custom-fitted trays that are snug and tailor fit to your bite. This serves multiple functions. First, it protects your gums. Second, it keeps your whitening gel on your teeth. Third, it prevents saliva from leaking into the trays. Why is this important?
Protecting Your Gums
Whitening gel is only meant for your teeth. When it gets on your gums, it can cause irritation. No one wants a painful experience in order to get a beautiful smile.
Keeping the Whitening Gel in Place
The longer the whitening gel is on your teeth, the more effective the whitening process. If you have gel leaking out of your trays, then it is not whitening your teeth. It’s essentially being thrown away and wasted.
Saliva encroachment
In addition to the whitening gel getting out, you will have saliva leaking in. This dilutes the gel that actually stays in the tray. This weakens the effectiveness even further.
Getting the Teeth Whitening You Want
In the long run, I think you will end up spending more money with this kit than if you went through your dentist, simply because you would need several kits to match the same efficiency. That does not mean you have to have Zoom Whitening done.
Many dentists who offer Zoom, also offer the at-home tray method. Talk to your dentist and see if he or she does. I bet they’d be willing to accomodate you. If they don’t, you can always go to another dentist for this procedure. Just make sure you do it about the same time you need to get your next check up and cleaning because many dentists require this before teeth whitening.
There is good reason for this. They need to make sure there are not any underlying problems with your teeth you may not have been aware of, such as the formation of new decay. They also are trying to give you the best result and if your teeth aren’t their cleanest, you could end up with splotchy results.
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