Is It Bad to Whiten Your Teeth?

Nice smiles. We all want them, but sometimes, the idea of going to the dentist can be intimidating.

Many people panic at the thought of sitting in a dental chair. Luckily, Lasting Smiles Dental Care has the solution. We’re the only dental office in Las Vegas to offer combo sedation dental care at no extra cost. With both in-office and take-home whitening treatments, the smile you want is within reach.

Some of you may be wondering, “Is whitening bad for your teeth?” The answer is, “No—as long as you use safe and dentist-approved treatments.” Let’s take a look at the difference between over-the-counter whitening methods and those provided in our office.

Why Whiten with Us?

It’s true that you have many options when it comes to whitening your teeth, as covered in this Healthline article. However, not all methods are created equal. Overall, professional medical whitening is the safest and most effective option.

Effectiveness

Teeth can be stained on the outside, of course, but they can also be stained inside, beneath the outer layer of enamel. Unlike the treatments we provide in our office, over-the-counter whitening products aren’t able to whiten this interior layer.

Moreover, over-the-counter strips aren’t usually designed to get into the nooks and crannies on the surface of your teeth. This also makes them less effective. The results that over-the-counter strips provide may seem impressive in the short term, but can be fleeting and superficial.

Safety

Many over-the-counter whitening strips use abrasives to help with their whitening process. These can damage your teeth and gums and cause sensitivity. There’s also some evidence that the hydrogen peroxide used in OTC whitening strips can penetrate the outer coating of enamel and harm the inner layer of your teeth.

No matter what process you decide to use, we recommend that you consult your dentist first, who will be able to match you with the system that will work best for you. 

Pros and Cons of Professional Whitening

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the professional teeth whitening services we offer at Lasting Smiles:

Pros:

• Regulation: When you opt for our services, you know that we’re using safe, effective methods that won’t damage your gums or teeth.
• Sedation: We offer sedation dentistry at no additional cost.
• Professionalism: We maintain a clean, safe environment where you will be taken care of by our friendly staff.
• Effectiveness: Professional whitening treatments are typically more effective and last longer than over-the-counter methods.

Cons:

• Cost: Over-the-counter whitening treatments are cheaper than professionally administered treatments. 

We do understand that cost can be a very important factor, but it’s never a good idea to compromise on safety just to save a few extra dollars. You only get one smile—it’s important to take care of it!

What’s more, professional whitening methods are often longer-lasting. With over-the-counter whitening strips, you have to repeat the treatment more often, which means that some of the price advantage disappears.

Hear from Others

Here at Lasting Smiles Dental Care, we take pride in providing high-quality, friendly care to each and every one of our clients. But don’t just take our word for it. Watch these testimonials from a few of our satisfied customers:

• Katie
• Robert Haines
• Sharonda

If you’d like to hear what we can do for you, why not give us a call? We’d love to help you achieve the smile of your dreams.