Pearly Whites for the New Year: Why Professional Services Are Better Than Drugstore Remedies

Don’t dread the upcoming year with a dull smile, and don’t waste money on drugstore whiteners that leave you with disappointing results. The color of your teeth is given to you at birth, and it changes over time. It’s a natural process to see your teeth getting duller as you age. Your teeth can also change color based on your smoking, eating, or drinking habits. The good news is that you can turn back time when it comes to stained teeth.

At Dr. Juan M. Carrillo’s Soothing Dental Care practice in Richmond, Virginia, we know there’s no shame in wanting a brighter, more confident smile. Dr. Carrillo offers many different teeth-whitening options, so you get to choose what works for your schedule and budget. We believe everyone should fall in love with their own smile.

Why can’t I use drugstore remedies?

Dr. Carrillo advises patients to stay away from whitening products found at drugstores. According to the Cleveland Clinic, drugstore products are far less effective than professional teeth-whitening services.

Save time

Drugstore whitening products usually require the application of a whitening gel twice a day for 14 days or more. Whitening strips take up even more time, requiring you to leave the strips on your teeth for 30 minutes twice a day for 14 days.

Whitening gels and strips use a much lower concentration of peroxide than you can get with Dr. Carrillo’s professional teeth whitening. This means that the at-home drugstore remedies will leave you with lackluster results that won’t stand the test of time.

Safety

In 2019, scientists discovered that drugstore teeth-whitening remedies might be damaging teeth. Americans spend over $1 billion a year on drugstore teeth-whitening products that could be causing permanent damage.

Your teeth have three layers: connective tissue that binds the teeth to the gums, the outer tooth enamel, and an underlying dentin layer. Researchers know that over-the-counter whiteners penetrate the outer tooth enamel, but the 2019 research found that the peroxide may also be penetrating the sensitive dentin layer as well, causing pain and sensitivity.

Dr. Carrillo has specialized training in teeth whitening, so he can safely whiten your teeth with non-damaging bleaching agents and more precision.

Can I extend my teeth-whitening results?

Yes. The first step to extending teeth-whitening results is using the best professional technique. Once Dr. Carrillo polishes your pearly whites, here’s what you can do to extend the teeth-whitening results.

Avoid foods and drinks that stain

A few foods and beverages should be avoided or ingested in moderation because they tend to stain the outside enamel of your teeth. These include:

• Coffee
• Dark berries
• Red wine
• Teas
• Sodas
• Dyes (saffron, paprika)
• Sauces (soy, curry)

Good oral hygiene

To keep your smile cranked up to 1,000 watts after your professional whitening treatment, make sure you stick to a healthy routine of brushing and flossing at least twice a day. Brushing after every meal will help you avoid staining as well. 

Dr. Carrillo offers in-office and take-home treatments. The in-office procedure takes only a few visits of 30-60 minutes or one session of about two hours. If you would rather use one of our take-home whitening kits, you can get a brighter smile in just a few weeks without having to worry about squeezing in a dental appointment in the middle of your busy day.

Call us today at 804-201-9459 to make an appointment for a consultation, or use our convenient online scheduling tool.