Do At-Home Teeth Whitening Kits Work?

Your teeth can get discolored over time due to poor dental hygiene, smoking, and excessive consumption of colored food or drinks. Fortunately, not all is lost because you can restore your bright teeth and gain the confidence to flash your bright smile again with teeth whitening.

Regular brushing, flossing, and teeth cleaning can keep your teeth strong and healthy. But if you notice some discoloration in your teeth and this dental concern affects your confidence, having your teeth whitened may be your best option. While we always recommend undergoing professional whitening at the dental office, many people wonder if at home teeth whitening works as well.

Teeth whitening kits have become increasingly popular because they offer a more convenient way to whiten teeth. They can be used even without the help of dental professionals. However, they don’t always guarantee the best results.

What Are AtHome Teeth Whitening Kits?

At home teeth whitening kits come in a collection of trays and tubes filled with whitening gels or syringes. They come in various types, such as whitening kits with moldable trays, pre-filled trays, and trays with LED lights.

How Do Teeth Whitening Kits Work?

At home teeth bleaching kits have whitening gels that contain carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. They also come with trays that facilitate the bleaching process by holding the whitening gels in constant contact with your teeth.

• Pre-filled and moldable trays 

Pre-filled and moldable trays are heated up to mold onto your teeth. They use hydrogen peroxide as the whitening agent that triggers the bleaching action once it makes contact with your teeth. You can take the plastic trays off and on and fill them with the whitening gel as needed.

These trays serve as one-size-fits-all kits, and they produce fairly desirable results. Since they come in handy, they are perfect for you if you are always on the go.

• Kits with LED light

Teeth whitening kits with LED lights have become popular because of their aesthetic appeal. They may come with pre-filled trays or moldable trays with whitening gel, and a LED light is attached to them to activate the whitening gel and begin the whitening process. The LED light also enhances the effect of hydrogen peroxide, which helps produce better initial results compared to pre-filled and moldable trays.  However, the effects of the light are short-term and are mainly due to dehydration of the teeth.  Because of this, there is no real benefit in using an LED light for whitening.

How Do I Use Teeth Whitening Kits?

Most whitening teeth kits are designed to be used every day for 4 to 14 days straight, depending on the kit. Their bleaching agents should be left in contact with your teeth for at least under an hour to achieve your desired results.

Each kit can vary in the number of treatments. Most kits come with written instructions, so read them carefully to be guided on how to use them properly. They also contain a shade guide to let you monitor your progress.

Are At Home Teeth Whitening Kits Effective?

At home teeth whitening kits can show some results, but they have their limitations. Teeth whitening kits are effective only at eliminating some stains and teeth discoloration. In-office teeth whitening is more effective because it uses whitening treatments that contain hydrogen peroxide concentrations of up to 40 percent, while most store-bought whitening products and kits usually have no more than 10 percent of concentrations.

Conclusion

Keeping your teeth as stain-free as possible can be done with a teeth whitening treatment. At home teeth whitening procedures work, but they may not always match the results with in-office procedures. To have the pearly white smile you’ve always wanted, consider booking a dental cleaning and in-office teeth whitening treatment at a trusted dental practice.

Get sparkling white teeth by undergoing teeth whitening treatment at our dental practice. We also offer dental implants, Invisalign, and more in Matthews, North Carolina. Schedule an appointment today!