By Amy Kennard
Teeth whitening products and procedures have become as prominent these days as the smiles on our faces. But which products are really the most effective, and which ones just take a bite out of your wallet?
Brushing Your Way to Whiter Teeth?
The most common teeth whitening products are over-the-counter (OTC) toothpastes that you can pick up at most any local retailer. Most all of these toothpastes and many of the OTC whitening products merely contain surface abrasives, which “scratch” off stains built up on teeth from coffee, tea, and certain foods. Dr. Mark Houska of Houska Dental Center in Bloomington says, “The ‘whitening’ label on these products is not necessarily a falsehood, as they will remove some areas of staining from the external surfaces of the teeth. But consumers should be aware that these products will not change the intrinsic
coloration of their teeth.”
Whitening rinses generally combine the same ingredients as mouthwashes and anti-plaque rinses but also may include diluted hydrogen peroxide. Because these rinses come into contact with teeth for such a short amount of time, they are usually not very effective.
Strips Can Be Sub-Par
OTC whitening strips can be a safe option for those desiring a minor lift in teeth whitening, Dr. Houska explains. These products contain a non-prescription-strength agent similar to that used by dental professionals, but the professional teeth whitening procedures contain a much higher concentration. Though users may notice some whitening of the teeth with use of OTC whitening strips, Dr. Houska recommends these be used following a professional dental cleaning to ensure proper contact of the whitening agent with the tooth surface and cautions that the whitening result will be nowhere near that obtained by professional methods offered in the dental office. “We often see patients in our office who have tried the whitening strips available over the counter at home, liked the result, but are looking for a more dramatic change,” Houska says.
Troublesome Trays
Tray-based tooth whitening systems involve filling a mouth-guard-like tray with a gel whitening solution that contains a peroxide-based bleaching agent. The tray is worn for a period of time, generally for up to two weeks or more. But because trays sold in at-home kits aren’t custom-made to fit your teeth, they generally do not fit well, pose a risk of rubbing and irritating your gums, and allow leakage of the whitening agents onto the other tissues of your mouth, which can harm these sensitive tissues. Whitening trays for at-home use should be custom made for your mouth by a dental professional.
Many OTC whitening products, considered cosmetics rather than drugs, are not regulated by the FDA and have not proven efficacious by independent studies. Some even contain products that can be harmful to the teeth and gums. Talk to your dentist before using any whitening agent in your mouth.
For more information or to schedule a personal consultation, please call Houska Dental Center at 309-662-9042, or visit them online at www.HouskaDental.com. They are located at 2433 Maloney Dr. in Bloomington and offer twenty-five years of exceptional dental care to the Bloomington-Normal area with expertise in general and cosmetic dentistry.
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