Whitening your smile with the help of over-the-counter whitening products may seem like a great idea at first. After all, it’s less expensive than professional whitening, and promises to get similar results. But unfortunately, while most OTC whitening products talk a big game, in reality they can’t hold a candle to professional whitening.
Here are four important reasons why when it comes to whitening your smile, it’s better to go “pro.”
Faster Results
Slow and steady wins the race, as they say. But when it comes to whitening your teeth, the last thing you probably want to do is take your time, especially if you’d like your teeth whiter for an upcoming event. Unfortunately, while those OTC kits may claim to work just as quickly as professional whitening, they really don’t. In-office professional whitening can remove up to eight shades of discoloration in about one hour, while take-home kits from your dentist can remove the same amount in about two weeks. To get that big of a change could take months with your standard department store white strips or gels!
Less Sensitivity
If you’d like a whiter smile but are concerned about tooth sensitivity, the great news is that professional whitening has been shown to cause less sensitivity than OTC products, not more! That’s because when you choose professional whitening, you can get better results than storebought products in a fraction of the time. This means you won’t need to subject your teeth to those powerful active ingredients for as long as you would with OTC products, thus limiting their sensitivity.
More Noticeable Results
When you whiten your teeth, you want to be able to see the impact of your treatment. After all, if you can’t tell anything’s different, why would you want to invest your time and money? With professional in-office whitening, you get noticeable results in about an hour, and take-home kits will reveal your smile’s full potential in about two weeks. With OTC strips and gels, it could be many months before you notice any changes, and even then, they could still be very nominal.
Better Value Over Time
Finally, while it is true that OTC whitening products are cheaper up front, with professional whitening you get what you pay for. Better still, because you can finish your treatment much sooner than with storebought products, you could even end up saving a lot of money and time by not having to repurchase kit after kit of OTC whiteners only to get inferior results.
Remember, professional whitening isn’t just a faster and safer way to whiten your teeth, it’s also a more effective and maybe even more affordable way to do it, too! So, before you spend another hard-earned dime on OTC white strips, gels, or pastes, speak to your dentist about whether professional whitening is right for your smile!
About Our Practice
At Mt. Holly Family Dentistry, Dr. Cygler and Dr. Genco can’t wait to help you reveal your whitest, brightest smile. If you’ve been struggling with pastes, gels, or white strips trying to remove deep stains or discoloration from your teeth, we can help. We offer both in-office and take-home professional whitening to fit your schedule and budget. If you’d like to see if you’re a good candidate for this treatment, please make a consultation appointment by visiting our website or calling us at 609-267-3230.