A Washington DC dentist could supervise or perform various teeth whitening procedures or recommend over-the-counter whitening products that could be purchased through supermarkets and drugstores at a more reasonable cost.  However, the dentist warns that over-the-counter teeth whitening products do not last as long as the teeth whitening dental procedures performed in a dental office will.

Ultimately, what is best for an individual in terms of whitening their teeth depends on the type of discoloration and the amount of time and money they are willing to spend.  There are two main types of teeth whitening products, some primarily whitening toothpaste which removes surface stains by polishing with a mild abrasive or a chemical agent. These do not alter the tooth’s natural color and can only lighten its appearance slightly.

The other types of teeth whitening products contain a peroxide bleaching agent of either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.  These bleaching agents change the color of the tooth and could lighten it by several shades, according to a Washington dentist.

The American Dental Association (ADA) advocates for people to check with their dentist before using any bleaching products, even over-the-counter applications.  People with sensitive teeth could have a gum reaction or feel very uncomfortable during the bleaching process.  In addition, most products containing bleach will only bleach natural tooth enamel, so if you have a tooth-colored veneer, crown, feelings or partial dentures, bleaching may give an individual’s smile uneven results.

Washington dentists could evaluate and individual’s teeth to see if bleaching is right for their teeth, since discoloration of different kinds responds to different whitening products differently.  There are many examples of different types of tooth discoloration, some from the tar of smoking, stains from drinking soda, tea and coffee in addition to staining from age or medications.

Within an in-office bleaching technique, a dentist will use a rubber shield or a neutralizing gel over a patient’s gums to protect them. Then the dentist applies the peroxide bleaching solution to the teeth and exposes them to a bright light or laser to hurry along the whitening process.  This is one of the main reasons why a dental teeth whitening procedure works better then the over the counter products.