Simple, Easy and Safe Teeth Whitening at Home

There is a broad misconception regarding teeth whitening at home. Most people think that it is difficult or even impossible to whiten their teeth at home and that the only way is to go for in-surgery whitening. However, having your teeth whitened at your dentist’s is not a one-off treatment. You may think that when you leave the dentist’s surgery after your first visit you will be flashing your new smile feeling proud of your freshly whitened teeth, but this is not always the case. The procedure usually lasts for one or two weeks – depending on how discoloured your teeth are – and after the first whitening session, your dentist will give you the set of your customised mouth trays and the right amount of whitening gel and ask you to continue the treatment at home. Otherwise, you will have to pay frequent, or daily, visits to your dentist, which can be a real problem as far as your schedule is concerned – let alone the cost. Teeth whitening at home started in the early 1990s when Dr. George Madray, a cosmetic dentist in California, USA, started selling his complete teeth-whitening kit not only to dentists, but also to individual users. The kits contained customisable “warm and form” mouth trays, the right amount of whitening gel and detailed instructions of use. Individual users could whiten their teeth at the comfort of their home and at a fraction of the in-surgery whitening. The method soon became so popular that manufacturers of dental products flooded the market with over-the-counter whitening kits giving the chance to users all over the world to whiten their teeth in the most economical, effective and safe way. For those of you who are considering using such a kit, our advice is to visit your dentist firs if there are cavities to be filled in your teeth, if you have a broken tooth or serious problems with your gums. This is necessary to prevent sensitivity or pain during the whitening process. Choose a Quality Whitening Kit The most important thing regarding teeth whitening at home is the selection of the whitening kit. There are all kinds of kits both in high street stores and online, but try to buy one that is manufactured by a reputable company, has been clinically tested, and has received positive reviews and testimonials from people who have used it. Whitening-kit prices don’t vary dramatically as they range between £20 and £70 with an average cost for most kits at the £35-£40 mark. The ones sold at higher prices include some more items in the kit, such as a blue light activator or an after-treatment remineralisation gel. The gel that most teeth whitening kits use is carbamide peroxide which is considered to be both effective and safe for the teeth. Choose a whitening kit that contains a16% concentration of carbamide peroxide, which is the legal strength according to the newest EU Directive. Depending on how stained your teeth are, you will be able to lighten your teeth up to 10 shades in about 10 to 15 days. Treatment time also varies from 30 minutes to one hour per session. Teeth whitening at home is the simplest and most affordable way to whiten your teeth and enjoy a brighter and more attractive smile.