White, Whiter, Whitest

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Whitening toothpaste, whitening strips, whitening gels. The dizzying array of choices in the toothpaste aisle is intimidating, to say the least. So which to choose, what is best?

The quick answer is this: the products at your local drugstore all have similar whitening ingredients to what’s available at your dentist’s office, the main one being peroxide. The difference between what you can buy at the store and what your dentist provides is a matter of concentration. The drug store products all have a very low percentage of active ingredient, between 1 – 2%, versus up to 35% in the products available from your dentist’s office. Professional teeth whitening at the dentist’s office is a more concentrated peroxide product, and therefore more effective. 

So which is better? Dr. Kimberly recommends using 35% Opalescence bleaching gel in custom trays, made by your dentist and worn at home for 30 minutes a day until the desired shade is achieved. On average, it takes 10-14 days and the results are the best out there.

For more on teeth whitening, check out this Washington Post article here. And to stay white, skip stain-causing foods such as coffee, tea, and red wine –– and avoid fad teeth rinses like lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and activated charcoal because they will damage and erode the enamel of your teeth. Whatever product you purchase, make sure it has the ADA seal, which means it’s safe and effective. For questions regarding teeth whitening, please call our office at 949 640 0300.