I spent over $100 on a power toothbrush to help get my teeth whiter. I’ve brushed three times a day for the past three months and my teeth are as yellow as they were the day that I bought the new tooth brush. I’ve been using pricey whitening toothpaste with no change. How can I get my teeth whiter? – Dan N.
Dan – Teeth whitening from a dentist is the most effective treatment. You can receive in-office or take-home treatment. With the take-home whitening, the dentist will make impressions of your teeth for custom-made whitening trays. You’ll receive bleaching gel to place in the trays. You’ll wear the trays each day for the time that the dentist specifies, and within two to three weeks, you’ll have a sparkling smile. The price range for the take-home treatment is approximately $200 to $350.
In-office treatment can dramatically brighten your smile within an hour. Gel will be applied to your teeth by the dentist for a fast, brilliant smile. The cost is approximately $500 to $600.
In either case, you case you can do touch-ups at home with custom whitening trays and bleaching gel that you’ll receive from your dentist.
Although there are many do-it-yourself whitening treatments, you’ll get the best results from a cosmetic dentist. Keep in mind that depending on the cause of the discoloration or stains on your teeth, teeth whitening may make the problem more noticeable. A cosmetic dentist will be able to determine the cause of the discoloration of your teeth and whether or not teeth whitening is right for you.
This blog post is brought to you by the Chicago dentists of Landman Dental Associates.