For patients who’d like to whiten at home, we’ll create custom trays made from impressions we take of your teeth. This provides you with snug-fitting trays that will ensure more of the whitening gel touches your teeth. At our Charlotte, NC dental office, we’ll give you our professional-strength whitening gel and a crash course on safely applying it, and then you’re off to a whiter, brighter smile.
We recommend that initially you whiten for two weeks to achieve your desired results, and after that, you’ll be able to update your smile whenever you like.
Professional Whitening Versus Over-the-Counter Whitening
Some patients choose to whiten with over-the-counter products, and there is an endless number of gels, toothpastes, and whitening strips available. While this may seem more cost-effective, here are some things you should consider:
The whitening gel Dr. Gentry has access to is much stronger than over-the-counter products. It may take longer for you to achieve your desired results with store-bought whitening products.
Dr. Gentry creates custom-fitting whitening trays while drug store systems are one size fits all. They could be ill-fitting, which puts you at risk of developing sensitivity from excess whitening gel getting onto your gums and other soft tissues of your mouth.
Over-the-counter products are often designed to focus on only your front six teeth, which may not produce your desired results.
Over-the-counter teeth whitening products in Charlotte, NC usually provide inconsistent results.
It’s always advisable to whiten your teeth under the supervision of your dentist in case you experience issues with sensitivity.
Helping Your White Teeth Stay that Way Longer
Once you’ve invested in professional teeth whitening at our Charlotte, NC dental office, it’s only natural that you want your teeth to stay as white as possible for as long as possible. There are things you can do to help ensure your teeth stay white and bright. Avoid those lifestyle habits that might have caused your teeth to become stained in the first place.
Limit staining beverages such as coffee, tea, and red wine—and be sure to rinse your mouth with water after indulging. If you are a smoker, there is not better time than the present to quit this unhealthy habit. It not only causes your teeth to become yellow, but it is also bad for your overall health.
- Visit your dentist twice each year for routine checkups and professional teeth cleaning. Each time our hygienist cleans your teeth, surface stains are removed, giving your smile a bright, fresh look.
- Use our take-home whitening trays to give yourself touch-ups whenever you need it.
We usually recommend that our Charlotte, NC dental patients get a professional teeth cleaning prior to undergoing teeth whitening treatment. This helps to ensure that all plaque and calculus has been removed from the teeth, providing a better result.