Home Whitening Kits vs. Professional Services

Teeth whitening in Asheville can be both pain-free and amazingly effective.

Whiter teeth are recognized as a sign of health and beauty in today’s culture and also help people feel more confident.

The trend to improve the whiteness of your smile has grown. As a result, many people have taken matters into their own hands. Teeth whitening in Asheville is as easy as stopping into your local pharmacy, buying a kit and applying the product at home. And while home whitening kits may seem easier and less expensive, beware of the pitfalls.

It’s All a Cover-up

It’s not really the whiteness that indicates a healthy mouthful of teeth — it’s actually what’s under the top dentin that tells the whole story. Home whitening kits can give you a big bright smile (after weeks of applications), but they also can cover up potentially dangerous problems such as cracks, infections and decay.

Only by getting your teeth whitening done by a dental professional can you be assured that what’s under your bright smile truly is healthy. If you insist on doing it yourself, you’ll find out quickly if you have any underlying dental issues. When you apply the home whitening gels, you’ll experience a shock of pain in your mouth when the chemicals hit an open nerve or untreated infection.

Consider the Angles

Home whitening kits and professional teeth whitening in Asheville use many of the same chemicals and processes. The difference is, when you do it yourself, you won’t have the guidance a professional can provide. In addition to making sure your teeth and gums at healthy before you even begin a whitening treatment, your Asheville dentist:

• Takes into consideration the shape of your teeth, the bite of your jaw and the condition of your gums. Your dentist can help you decide if whitening will improve your smile or not.
• Counsels you on other steps that will improve your appearance before you make your current smile brighter and more noticeable.
• Offers alternatives such as braces, porcelain veneers or crowns.
• Uses only chemicals and processes that are completely safe for your body.

Safer Teeth Whitening in Asheville

You definitely need patience when using an at-home teeth whitening kit at home. In the dentist’s office, on the other hand, you’ll see immediate results. Dental professionals have access to — and applicable knowledge of — much stronger whitening solutions to give you that new smile. And they know when to stop. You do want your smile to look natural, after all. When you use a whitening kit at home, you may not know how far to take it.

The tools used to whiten your teeth professionally are custom fitted to your mouth, unlike a commercial, over-the-counter product you buy. Dentists take every precaution to ensure your gums and the soft tissues around your teeth don’t come in contact with the strong chemicals. You won’t have to undergo the pain and sensitivity so often associated with at-home teeth whitening processes.

So, it might cost you a little more, but when you take in the potential hazards and consequences of a poorly executed home-whitening catastrophe, consider the wisdom of getting your teeth whitening in Asheville done by the pros at Zöe Dental.

—The Zöe Dental Team