Why You Should Use Dental Care Teeth Whitening Rather Than at-Home Teeth Whitening Kits
There’s more than one way to brighten and whiten your smile. Let’s explore the pros and cons of DIY versus professional dental care teeth whitening methods, from reduced costs to enamel damage.
Per the Oral Health Foundation, 66% of people in the UK have ‘actively considered’ tooth whitening, and 40% of under-35s have had their teeth whitened. There’s a clear and growing demand for whitening services, and as this demand has increased, so has the number of products available to the public.
Laser whitening, gel whitening, whitening toothpaste, whitening strips. There’s no shortage of options available.
But which is the best route? Which whitening option will boost your smile confidence and preserve your oral health? This article explores the reality behind some of those newer quick-fix methods…
The Benefits of Teeth Whitening
There are numerous benefits to teeth whitening, especially when it meets an approved and agreed-upon clinical standard. For example:
- Improved personal confidence and mood: Teeth whitening can significantly boost a person’s smile confidence, which in turn positively impacts their overall confidence and mental health. After whitening, people often feel able to laugh more freely and smile more.
- Improved oral health: Just as there are mental health benefits, professional teeth whitening comes with oral health benefits. Stain removal often includes plaque and tartar removal, which strengthens your teeth and reduces the risk of complications or health problems in later life.
- Stress-free enjoyment of staining culprits: Various foods and drinks can stain your teeth, including tea, coffee, red wine, curry, berries, and dark chocolate. A regular teeth whitening schedule lets you enjoy these without worrying so much about maintaining your bright, beautiful smile.
- Fast, lasting results: Despite not being a very long process (laser treatment can whiten in as little as an hour and a half), the results of dental care teeth whitening last anywhere from one to three years. This means smile maintenance is a fairly minimal ongoing burden after the first whitening session.
Dental Care Teeth Whitening vs Home Teeth Whitening Kits
Between 2024 and 2030, the UK’s teeth whitening market is expected to grow by 6.6%. Some of this growth will come from the DIY offerings category, which is constantly saturated with brand-new products and twists on old formulas.
It’s no surprise, then, that searching up something like ‘teeth whitening near me’ is likely to yield numerous at-home kit results.Those results might leave you wondering why you’d choose dental care teeth whitening over doing it yourself. So, let’s lay out the pros and cons…
The Pros and Cons of Dental Teeth Whitening
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| Visiting a dentist for whitening is safe. It offers you access to professional-grade products and equally professional applications. This significantly reduces the risk of side effects like gum irritation, enamel damage, or increased dental sensitivity. | Dental teeth whitening requires you to travel to your dentist’s office. In most cases, you can’t get professional, quality whitening at home. |
| Dentists have the know-how and experience necessary to customise your whitening treatment to your specific teeth. They can personalise and select the best option for you based on your dental history and desired whitening level. | Your teeth whitening cost could be higher at the dental practice than at home. For some, this is a reason to avoid professional help. If you’re interested in quality dental whitening but have price concerns, speak with your dentist about payment plans or membership options. |
| If an issue arises from your whitening treatment, your dentist will work with you to determine the problem and resolve it as soon as possible. | |
| Dental care teeth whitening is long-lasting and requires less frequent touch-ups, since dentists use more potent whitening agents than you’ll find on the supermarket shelves. |
The Pros and Cons of DIY Teeth Whitening Kits
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| Whitening at home can save you money. You don’t have to cover travel costs to get to the dentist, and there are lots of budget whitening products available to buy (online or on the shelves/over the counter). | DIY products carry an increased risk of tooth and gum sensitivity, and of damage to tooth enamel over time. These problems could be caused by poor product quality or, in many cases, just by incorrect usage. |
| DIY whitening is often the most convenient and readily available option, with no requirement to visit the dentist’s office or book an appointment in advance. | Online whitening kits aren’t regulated and monitored in the same way as dental whitening services. Some, for instance, contain concerningly high levels of chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide. |
| At-home whitening tends to yield more short-term results than dental whitening, so you’ll need to factor in the cost and inconvenience of more frequent upkeep. |
Access Safe, Effective Teeth Whitening in Cheltenham
If you’re local to Cheltenham and thinking about professional whitening, Illume’s dentists would love to bring your smile back to its full glory.
As we’ve covered, there are always shortcuts and DIY options available. But the risks associated with those options shouldn’t be understated. The cheaper choice in the short term could cause permanent or expensive-to-rectify damage to your mouth in the long term.
For top-quality work and care, reach out to Illume Dental to schedule an initial consultation.
