Don’t get us wrong – we’re totally in favour of quality OTC teeth whitening kitsand related products! Particularly these days, with the most advanced and capable DIY kits and products the world has ever seen. But at the same time, nobody in their right mind would ever try to claim the DIY approach to teeth whitening can realistically compare with professional teeth whitening.
There’s a reason why millions of dentists all over the place continue to be inundated with requests for their professional teeth whitening treatments. Even in an age where it’s perfectly possible to whiten your teeth effectively at home, there are certain advantages to the professional option that simply cannot be replicated outside surgery.
A Worthy Price to Pay?
Of course, this will be the point where many begin to argue that the relatively high costs of professional treatments augment the additional benefits. Given the comprehensive affordability and impressive capabilities of home treatments, is there really anything to gain by paying over the odds for professional whitening?
On a periodic basis at least, the answer is…yes.
If you can afford to have your teeth whitened by a dentist every now and again, it’s definitely something you should consider doing. DIY whitening kits and associated products subsequently to be used to top things up and hold onto your Hollywood smile for as long as possible. It’s not the end of the world if you can’t afford professional treatments, but it’s something you should consider if you can.
But why is it that professional treatments have the potential to offer so much more than OTC kits? What can you expect to gain by having your teeth whitened professionally that goes over and above the manual option?
The way we see it, there are at least five reasons why professional whitening is worth paying for, which you’ll find outlined below:
- Minimise tooth sensitivity
In most instances, the whitening process doesn’t trigger any particularly unpleasant side effects. If it does, they tend to be limited to heightened sensitivity and perhaps a little discomfort. Even in instances where OTC whitening kits are perfectly safe to use, they may still contain the kinds of active ingredients and chemicals that could cause sensitivity. If you already have sensitive teeth, using an inappropriate kit could not only be painful, but also make the sensitivity you experience even worse. With a professional whitening treatment, sensitivity can be taken into account and managed/minimised accordingly.
- Uniquely even results
One of the most common issues regarding the use of OTC whitening products is the potential to end up with uneven results. This comes down to a combination of two things – the quality of the kit used, and the extent to which the customer follows the manufacturer’s guidelines to the letter. Nevertheless, even when being as meticulous as you can be, there’s still an outside chance you will end up with uneven whitening. This is one of the biggest benefits of opting for a professional whitening treatment where available. The techniques used by dentists in conjunction with their expertise can ensure the most flawless consistency across your entire mouth. All of which adds to the perceived naturalness of the final result.
- Gum protection
Most take-home whitening kits on the market these days adopt an approach wherein the active ingredient that whitens your teeth also it comes into contact with your gums. For the most part, the kits and their respective formulas will have been determined 100% safe to use and of no real threat to your oral health. Nevertheless, the kinds of active ingredients that effectively whiten teeth are not necessarily kind to your gums. This is where another relatively common side effect comes into the equation – gum irritation and sensitivity. Some of the better kits minimise exposure to the chemicals in the preparation, but cannot prevent it entirely. By contrast, professional whitening treatments are carried out in a manner that comprehensively protects the gums from exposure to any harmful substances. Beneficial in all instances, though particularly for those who already experience sensitivity or gum health issues of any kind.
- Far faster results
Over time, quality DIY teeth whitening kits really can build to an impressive effect. Nevertheless, even the best kits on the market usually need to be used multiple times on a number of occasions, before reaching their maximum effectiveness. Great if you have plenty of time, but not particularly convenient if you would prefer your teeth to be whitened in a hurry. At the hands of the professionals, the entire teeth whitening process can be completed within a matter of minutes. No OTC kits or product on the market these days have the same kind of whitening power as those used by dentists. So when time is a factor and you’d prefer results sooner rather than later, you could argue that professional treatments are more than worth paying for.
- Avoid damage to your teeth
Last but not least, it’s never advisable to invest in a teeth whitening kit without first verifying its quality and safety. Checking out as many reviews and recommendations as possible beforehand comes highly recommended. As does speaking to your dentist for their own personal recommendations. Nevertheless, far too many buy the first kits they come across completely at random, without taking into account their safety or effectiveness. Make the mistake of using a substandard kit and you run the risk of causing damage to your teeth and gums. Likewise, fail to follow the instructions to the letter when using any kind of OTC whitening kit and the same risk applies. One of the most reassuring things about professional treatments being that you know your teeth and gums are in safe hands from start to finish!
Once again, it’s not that DIY teeth whitening products don’t have the capacity to deliver fantastic results. It’s just that occasionally indulging in a professional whitening treatment really can be a treat worth paying for!
