In the new year, many people want drastic change. As a result, many people make resolutions during the first of a new year in order to implement a new lifestyle or helpful behavior. For some, resolutions look like going to the gym more frequently or trying new eating habits. Other people want to change parts of their appearance. If you are thinking about a New Year’s resolution, you should consider talking to your dentist.

A white smile can open a lot of doors. Not only will it strengthen your confidence, but it can also leave a lasting impression. If you want a brighter, whiter smile, think about whitening your teeth. Don’t just take a trip to the nearest convenience store. Contact your dentist for a professional whitening treatment. 

Types of Whitening Treatments

Nowadays, all it takes to order a whitening treatment is to click a button. But, while it may be easier to go to the store or order online, you are better off getting a treatment from your dentist. 

The concept of at-home whitening treatments is similar to professional treatments. However, your dentist will use better chemicals and equipment to produce better results. Most whitening treatments use bleaching chemicals, such as hydrogen peroxide. These chemicals break down stains to lift them from your teeth. Whitening trays, strips, and gels all use this concept. Whitening toothpaste also uses bleaching chemicals. In addition, many types of whitening toothpaste use mild abrasives to buff away surface stains. 

Faster Results

When you go to the dentist for a whitening treatment, you will get faster results compared to at-home treatments. While nearly all whitening treatments use the same chemicals, your dentist uses higher-quality materials. As a result, you can get a whiter smile much faster than with other treatments. 

If you use a whitening toothpaste consistently, it can take 6-8 weeks for you to see significant improvement in your smile. Therefore, it is not likely that you will see any quick, dramatic results while safely using at-home whitening treatments. 

However, you can make an appointment with your dentist, and in one session, you can see a difference in your smile. So rather than waiting weeks to see a mild change in the shade of your teeth, you can have a whiter smile in one dental appointment. 

So, if you have an important event around the corner, make sure to call your dentist. 

Better Quality

Using at-home whitening treatments can lighten the shade of your smile. However, the results are unlikely to be dramatic. To make at-home treatments safe for non-professional use, the ingredients are not as strong compared to the ones your dentist uses. This means that you will see a significant change in your teeth in one session. 

Over the course of several weeks or months, you may notice the shade of your teeth lightens by 3-4 shades. However, professional whitening treatments will produce much better results. In fact, you can see a difference of 5-7 shades in one appointment.