Are there downsides to professional teeth whitening? Whether you are not sure if you’d like to get your teeth whitened or you’re not sure how to get your teeth whitened, it is important to have a full picture of your options. Just as with everything in life, professional teeth whitening does have some cons, mostly in time and money. However, for most people, the cons of professional teeth whitening are more than outweighed by the benefits, especially compared to at-home whitening treatments that may not get you the results you’re looking for, or may not be safe for your teeth or your health. Here is what you need to know about the pros and cons of professional teeth whitening.
The Pros Of Whitening Your Teeth
Why get your teeth whitened at all? Many people find that the shade of their teeth can interfere with their self-image and how others perceive them. Depending on how the colour of your teeth is currently affecting you, you can anticipate a wide range of positive benefits to having whiter teeth that can help you achieve what want in life.
Self-image: How we see ourselves when we look in the mirror matters. If you find that the colour of your teeth is undermining your sense of self, preventing you from smiling, making you feel self-conscious in social situations, or stopping you from taking your next steps in life, then simply getting them whitened may be highly beneficial for you. Whitening is affordable and quick. Plus, with a dentist’s help, it is safe and offers great results.
Care for yourself: Everyone should feel empowered to care for themselves and indulge in the routines they need for positive self-esteem. For some people, this means treatments for their skin, nails, or hair. For others, healthy oral care tops the list (including doing what is necessary for a bright, engaging smile).
Social engagement: If your teeth stop you from feeling comfortable in social situations, then getting them whitened may make you much more confident at work, parties, and in other social scenarios.
Work rewards: It’s unfortunate but true, that people are often judged for their appearance at work. Even if you perform well, you may feel like you are being overlooked for advancement or promotion due to your physical appearance. If changing the colour of your teeth is important to you, you may find that having a brighter smile changes the way others see you too.
Interpersonal rewards: From finding potential life partners to leading political or social campaigns, you may find that any time you are in the spotlight, your yellow teeth impact your confidence and the way you present yourself. A simple whitening treatment can change all of that and help you achieve significant interpersonal rewards.
Indulge in staining foods: Imagine a wine connoisseur whose teeth stain easily from red wines. Or a novelist who needs their early morning cup of coffee in order to be productive. Some people either need or want to regularly consume foods that will stain their teeth. Having your teeth whitened can allow you to indulge without suffering these types of negative consequences from discoloured teeth.
The Cons Of Whitening Your Teeth
When you get your teeth whitened, there are also some potential downsides that you should consider. Most are temporary, so long as you choose professional teeth whitening over DIY methods, and it was performed properly. Still, you should know about these potential negative aspects of a teeth whitening treatment:
- Discomfort: Teeth whitening can involve minor temporary pain.
- Gum irritation: Your gums may be minorly irritated after whitening.
- White spots: For a short period of time after whitening, your teeth may have white spots.
- Costs: Getting your teeth whitened does cost money. However, with modern professional whitening methods, it is a smaller investment than it used to be.
Pros And Cons Of Professional Teeth Whitening Compared To At-Home Treatments
Once you’ve made the decision to get your teeth whitened, you have a choice between going to your dentist’s office to have a professional whitening treatment or trying an at-home kit for teeth whitening. We strongly recommend that you choose to see your dentist, particularly if your dentist offers Zoom whitening, which is often the best choice for safe, consistent results. Here’s a comparison between at-home and in-office whitening:
- Safety: By far, the most important thing when it comes to any treatment for your teeth is ensuring that the procedure is safe, in the short and long term, for your teeth and your overall health. Even when an at-home kit is, in theory, safe to use, if not undertaken with care and precision, it is possible for you to make mistakes which end up significantly hurting your health. Your dentist is highly trained and able to perform safer treatments, as well as ensure the treatment technique is consistent. You won’t have to worry about the safety of your whitening when you are in your dentist’s office.
- Travelling to the dentist: It’s true, at-home whitening kits are shipped to you or purchased over-the-counter at a drugstore, and then you can use them right in the comfort of your own home. When you choose professional teeth whitening you need to travel to your dentist’s office, sometimes twice – first for the consultation appointment if needed, and then for the actual whitening. While a little less convenient, we still think the travel time is worth it for knowing your teeth are in the care of a professional.
- Costs: At first, it seems like in-office whitening is more expensive. That’s only because your dentist will offer safe whitening procedures that get consistent, high-quality results. If you buy an at-home kit that is less expensive, you are usually sacrificing results or sometimes even safety. The old adage, ‘You get what you pay for’ applies aptly here. When you get your teeth whitened at the dentist, you will usually do only one treatment and get the professional results you want right away. It’s less costly in the long run than having to purchase multiple at-home kits because they offer inferior results.
- Pain levels: Typically, teeth whitening procedures do cause some degree of temporary discomfort and pain. With at-home, potentially unsafe whitening kits, you will have no idea how much pain you might feel, and if any reaction you experience is normal. When you have the guidance of your dentist, you don’t need to worry about this. They will tell you what you should feel and how to manage any pain or discomfort effectively.
- Results: In the end, what you want is teeth that look naturally white and will stay that way for as long as possible. Working with a dentist is the best way to get these results.
Bradford Family Dentistry offers safe, reliable, professional teeth whitening. Call us today at 905-775-5307 or click here to request an appointment.