A wide range of whitening products are available over the counter, from gentle whitening toothpastes to bleaching trays. While these products can help you maintain a gleaming smile, for the best whitening results, it's better to visit your dentist. Here's what a dentist can do for your teeth that over the counter bleaching products can't.

Why You Should Visit the Dentist for Whiter Teeth

1. Faster Results

The products used by a teeth whitening dentist are much stronger than anything you can get over the counter. Where commercial whitening products might take many sessions to get your teeth to the desired shade, some professional techniques can do the job in a single half-hour sitting. Even if your dentist offers only take-home whitening trays and bleach, it'll still be more effective than what you can find in the store.

2. Safety

Dentists can offer stronger products because there is a small amount of risk in teeth whitening. A poorly fitted whitening tray or too much bleach can irritate your gums. This is much less likely with the supervision of an experienced dentist who will provide more precise bleach application.

3. No Discoloration

The goal of whitening products is to lighten your smile, but overuse can actually darken and gray your teeth. Your dentist draws on their experience with bleaching products to stop your treatment before reaching this point. Also, any previously completed dental work won't lighten with your enamel, so your dentist will help control your whitening to avoid making these areas stand out.

If you need teeth whitening in Honolulu, HI, visit Stephanie ML Wong, DMD. Voted Best Dentist in 2015 by the Honolulu Magazine, Dr. Wong and her team provide cutting-edge dental treatment with affordable and flexible payment options. To schedule an appointment, call (808) 732-3072 or visit their website.