Affordable at-home whitening

If you’d like to put your best smile forward at holiday parties and family photo opportunities, a professional whitening treatment is the perfect answer to turn stained, dingy teeth into brighter ones. 

But before you head to the corner store for over-the-counter strips, pens or whitening toothpaste, it’s smart to consider the difference between generic whiteners and professional whitening. One-size-fits-all products promise quick results, but rarely live up to the promises.

Before beginning any treatment, I assess the health of a patient’s tooth enamel. Since whitening toothpaste is more abrasive than regular toothpaste, using it over time can wear down enamel. 

After researching professional whitening products on the market, I chose the Opalescence take-home whitening system. With a higher concentration of peroxide than you’ll find with store-bought products, this formula safely and effectively removes a wide range of stains—even deeper ones caused by coffee, tea, wine or smoking. Since Opalescence penetrates deeper into the enamel than over-the-counter treatments, the results last longer. Another positive I liked with the formula is it contains potassium nitrate and fluoride, which help reduce tooth sensitivity and strengthen enamel during the whitening process for a comfortable experience and fortified enamel. A win-win.

The closer-fitting trays also make a difference as they allow gel to evenly coat teeth for more dramatic results. Patients wear the whitening trays for 15-30 minutes a day over the course of 10 days. 

Fehring Family Dentistry is located at 29473 Lorain Road, just west of Stearns Road, in North Olmsted. Call 440-777-4444 or visit FehringFamilyDentistry.com for more information.