Over drug-store products? Here’s why professional teeth whitening is better.

Everyone wants a beautiful white smile these days. Because of this, there are tons of over-the-counter products available at drug stores that promise to whiten your teeth.

Purchasing whitening toothpaste or strips at the drug store might seem like a thrifty way to get a result, but the truth is, professional whitening treatments are completely different—and, way better. They’re safer and last longer. But, don’t just take our word for it!

Here are some of the benefits patients get when they opt for professional whitening treatments:

Personalized whitening treatment

Over-the-counter whitening products only come in one size and strength to fit all types of teeth. Maybe this doesn’t seem like a big deal, but when it comes to dental work, each patient is different and has different needs. Whitening strips that you can get at your local drug store may not fit your teeth perfectly, which could result in only partial or uneven whitening. Some patients that have used over-the-counter whitening strips found that the strength of the whitening strips wasn’t quite right for their specific amount of staining.

During a professional whitening treatment, whitening gel is applied evenly to each tooth, so your pearly whites look even and retain the same level of brightness. Professional treatments also offer a higher strength than over-the-counter treatments. Instead of going the cheaper route that offers minimal results, why not go with a professional whitening treatment that can whiten your teeth by up to 8 shades in a single visit?

Fast treatments

OK, maybe the over-the-counter whitening strips give you the whiteness you’re looking for. The problem is you’ll need to use them for weeks upon weeks before you see those results. Trade the 30 minutes per day for two weeks in for an hour in a professional’s chair. You’ll be able to see the results you desired immediately!

Protect your gums 

So many patients who have used drug-store whitening strips have reported pain and sensitivity while using the product. Remember how we mentioned the one-size-fits-all issue? Over-the-counter strips usually make contact with your gums due to the incorrect sizing, which can cause sensitivity in your teeth and gums!

During a professional whitening treatment, we’ll prevent the whitening agent from coming into contact with your gums by placing a protective cover over your gums. It’s also not unusual for your dentist to suggest a fluoride treatment afterward to help cut down on the sensitivity of your teeth.

Professional, expert opinions

The biggest advantage to getting your teeth whitened by a professional is the amount of knowledge your doctor possesses about teeth staining. Oftentimes, a patient’s staining of their teeth is a result of another underlying issue that may not be helped with whitening treatments. By using an at-home whitening product, you could end up masking the problem instead of getting the right advice for you.

So, while over-the-counter whitening products seem like a great idea, they lack the follow through that professional whitening treatments always give you.