Teeth whitening strips are a product designed for at-home use and are popular with people that want to whiten their teeth for cosmetic purposes. You can find whitening strips from a wide range of brands at almost every pharmacy and big box store. While they are extremely popular, many people still question whether or not they actually are effective at whitening teeth. The short answer is yes, they do in fact whiten your teeth over time, but whitening strips are not the best way to whiten your teeth! In this article, we’ll talk more about whitening strips and other things you can do to achieve the pearly-white smile that you’re aiming for!
How Do Whitening Strips Work?
The majority of whitening strips are made out of polyethylene, which is a type of thin, elastic plastic. These plastic strips are coated in peroxide, and when held in contact with the enamel on your teeth, the peroxide bleaches away the stains that are responsible for yellowing. There are two main categories of teeth stains: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic stains are stains on the outside of the teeth. These stains are typically caused by things like smoking, coffee, wine, and other environmental factors. Intrinsic stains are stains inside your teeth. These stains are caused by genetics, enamel erosion, antibiotics, and other hard-to-control factors. Most whitening strips are designed to target and bleach both extrinsic and intrinsic stains, but they do not always contain enough bleaching agents to produce effective results.
Other Teeth Whitening Options
There are a wide variety of teeth whitening options available to you, including toothpastes, mouthwashes, gels, pens, and much more. While these products may work for some people, the best way to see long-lasting, effective teeth whitening results is to visit a cosmetic dental specialist for professional teeth whitening services. Dentists can use a custom mixture of dental grade whitening products that will be placed in a custom fit mold that fits over your teeth. Professional teeth whitening typically lasts two to three years, much longer than the effects of do-it-yourself teeth whitening methods like whitening strips!
Contact Gentle Dental Maine!
If you have any questions about whitening strips or are thinking about having your teeth whitened professionally, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at Gentle Dental Maine! Our family dentists specialize in general, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry services at each of our offices in South Portland, Biddeford, and Topsham. Give us a call at one of our offices, or become a patient today by filling out the new patient form on our website!
