Affordable Home Teeth Whitening Alternatives

While at home teeth whitening products are much less expensive than dental laser treatments, there are some considerations before choosing which one fits your individual needs.

There are three ways to get the white teeth you want by using home treatments. When choosing an affordable way to whiten your teeth at home you need to take into consideration how much you want to spend, how much time you have, and your comfort level. Home treatments are much less expensive than choosing a dentist for laser teeth whitening, as dental treatments can run around $600. Here are some options for the over the counter home whitening products:

Press on strips: Press on strips (such as Crest White Strips) are made from very thin plastic and have the bleaching agent on one side. They are affordable and comfortable, and can be worn anywhere, anytime, which is basis of their marketing. They should be worn two times a day for at least 30 minutes, for a period of two weeks. They contain approximately 6% hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent, and are comfortable and convenient.

Paint on whiteners: Paint on whiteners are also affordable, although they can be time consuming, as it takes much longer to paint each individual tooth than it does to apply the adhesive strips. Also, the teeth must be completely dry before use and the bleaching agent tends to wear off quickly. It is best to use this method in the evening, right before bedtime. Paint on whitening agents contain approximately 6% of the bleaching agent as whitening strips and are used for the same length of time, two times a day for about two weeks.

Gel whitening trays: Gel whitening trays contain a much higher percentage of peroxide; almost 10%, but you will need to set aside at least an hour in the privacy of your home to use them. They are the most effective home whitening treatment, but are also the most expensive and time consuming of the three. The trays are shipped as hard plastic, and must be soaked in hot water, and then formed to your own tooth mold. After that, squeeze the gel into the trays and insert them into your mouth. You will need to wear them for approximately 15-20 minutes, and they are uncomfortable and will cause you to drool. If the gel gets on your gums, you will experience the shock of seeing albino white gums when you take out the trays, but this fades after a few minutes.

If you are looking for the quickest results, the gel trays are the way to go. You will simply need to set aside the amount of time you need to achieve the desired results, uninterrupted. While more expensive than paint on or strips, the gel trays cost a lot less than the laser whitening from the dentist. Paint on gel and adhesive strips cost much less and take longer to get the desired results, but are much more comfortable and convenient than the trays. All have been proven safe for use, but you will want to discuss the alternatives with your dentist and make sure that your dental cleaning is up to date and that you have no risk of tooth or gum decay before choosing a product.