Best Teeth Whitening
Until recently, the best teeth whitening products were available to the public exclusively through professional treatment in a dentist's office. Obtaining this professionally whiter dental appearance traditionally involved an application of a bleaching agent, typically a peroxide based gel, applied directly to the teeth. For optimal results, this gel contains a professional strength formula of the bleaching agent which until now was only available through the dental community. Additionally, the dentist may use costly laser technology to activate the gel and expedite the brightening process to accomplish the maximum amount of teeth whitening in the shortest amount of time. This process will work well for the majority of patients, however, depending on the dentist and the geographical location, the cost of this procedure can run between $600.00 and $2000.00.
The first major over the counter product was introduced in 2000 as the Crest teeth whitening system. Today, there are a number of over the counter products that are available to the consumer. All of these products say that they will brighten your smile and claim to provide teeth whitening results that are comparable to those obtained professionally in a dentist's office. With all of these products using different techniques and composition it can be confusing selecting the method that is best for you. The good news about these advances in at home teeth whitening systems is that they are available at a fraction of the cost for professional treatment and, in fact, the vast majority of these products will produce noticeable teeth whitening results. However, on the negative side, the degree of brightness and the amount of time needed to obtain results will vary depending on the product, the active ingredient(s) in the product and the method of application. To make these systems cost effective, many of these "at-home" products use cheap and sometimes harmful ingredients to dilute the active whitening agent.
When selecting the best teeth whitening products an informed consumer should take these thing into consideration.
- Safety of the product: Will this product cause detrimental effects?
- Degree of Whiteness: How white do I want to make my smile?
- Cost of the product or procedure: How much money and I willing to spend?
- Time factors: How much time do I have to spend on brightening my smile?
The ideal solution for most individuals is a safe, natural product with the maximum concentration of active ingredient(s) that will produce the desired dental whitening in the shortest time span at a price that is affordable and fits within their budget.
Most at-home teeth whitening systems use peroxide based bleaching agents suspended in either a potentially harmful chemical such as propylene glycol, a substance found in automotive anti-freeze, and/or substances manufactured from animal by-products such as glycerin. Not only is the use of propylene glycol potentially harmful, the high pH of this product can cause tooth sensitivity. The strength of the active ingredient in most of these product ranges from 5 to 16 percent, considerably lower than the professional teeth whitening formulas.
The key to a healthy white smile is to use a professional strength whitening system that specializes in all natural approaches. There are more natural ways of whitening your teeth without potientally harming your teeth and gums. Carbamide peroxide can not found as a natural ingredient but glycerin does come in a kosher grade which is much safer than the animal by-product produced form. Also, propylene glycol is not a needed additive to obtain whiter teeth. Teeth whitening does not have to be a scary decision. Simply do some minor research on the product and the manufacturer before making a final decision, and then follow all provided directions. If you are still unsure where to get started, you may want to look at a well known and trusted product like Maximum Teeth Whitening.