Over-the-Counter Teeth Whitening Products: How Effective Are They?

Everyone wants a bright, healthy smile that they’re proud to show off to the people in their lives, but aging and many external factors can cause our teeth to look less than lustrous. Today, there are many over-the-counter teeth whitening products available at your local pharmacy and grocery stores, each of them promising amazing results. It is important, however, to be an informed consumer when it comes to teeth whitening products and services before you make a decision. At Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA, our doctors are happy to help patients understand the intricacies of teeth whitening and how it affects your teeth.

OTC Whitening vs. Professional Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening strips and comparable over-the-counter whitening products are capable of producing temporary results because they remove surface stains from the enamel. Unfortunately, their active ingredients aren’t powerful enough to deliver long-lasting results and, therefore, customers must repeat the process every month or so. In addition, because these products are used at home, there is more margin for error in application. This means that you may not even get the results you see on the package, particularly if the whitening solution does not remain in contact with all surfaces of the teeth for the prescribed amount of time.

Zoom! Whitening: Advantages of In-Office Whitening

Unlike over-the-counter teeth whitening products, professional whitening services – including the highly-effective Zoom! Whitening we offer in our office – produce lasting results by removing stains from deep within each tooth. The hydrogen peroxide gel formula we use during your Zoom! procedure is activated by a specialized light, allowing the active ingredients to permeate the stained layers of dentin and enamel. Years of discoloration are effectively lifted in a single, one-hour treatment. Take-home kits can be used to touch up your smile and maintain lasting results. Over-the-counter treatments simply cannot penetrate the surfaces of your teeth to remove set-in stains the way Zoom! Whitening can.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

Do you want to experience the full benefits of a gorgeously white smile in less time than ever before? Contact our office today if you have any questions about teeth whitening, or if you’re ready to schedule your appointment with our team of experienced doctors and our friendly staff. We look forward to helping you achieve the brilliantly white, healthy smile of your dreams. Our conveniently located office in Virginia Beach, VA proudly serves patients from the surrounding areas as well, including Portsmouth, Norfolk, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and beyond.