We have been on the market for some time and there are many of you who write to us via WhatsApp to ask us questions about the differences between the different teeth whitening techniques.
We can distinguish whitening in clinic and those that you can do at home.
Clinically, we can basically distinguish 3:
- Whitening with trays and peroxide-based gel: This is a treatment of approximately 10 days. The dentist will make you some molds with alginate, after a few days you can go pick them up and start the treatment. It consists of applying a small amount of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide inside the mold, and leaving it to act for 2 hours.
- Whitening with photoactivation: consists of applying a photoactivatable hydrogen peroxide whitening gel to the surface of the enamel and placing it in a light that makes the whitening effect immediate. The session normally lasts 45 minutes in 3 periods of 15 minutes to check that the whitening is progressing correctly. This treatment is the fastest, but at the same time it is also the most abrasive and, therefore, the one that causes the greatest sensitivity and discomfort.
- Combined: In many cases, tray whitening and photoactivation are combined to achieve instant partial whitening with photoactivation and gradual improvement with trays. Either method must be supervised by dentists, since the chemical components used are abrasive and can affect soft tissues.
They are effective and safe treatments (as long as they are done under the supervision of a dentist), but they are not cheap, since we are talking about between €300-500
Then we have the aesthetic option of veneers, which basically consists of gluing ceramic or composite “nails” to the surface of our teeth. In general, it is a good option if you are looking for a quick solution, but you have to keep in mind that they are delicate (composite ones end up staining or losing shine in the long run) and are the most expensive option. Prices can vary between €150-250 for each composite veneer and between €400-850 for porcelain veneers, so we are talking about treatments between €2000 and €10,000.
Finally, there are home whitening treatments. There are an infinite number of products here, but we have to be careful with which product we use, since they could harm our oral health.
- Whitening toothpastes: To be honest, most of them do little work. And basically it happens because the contact of the active ingredient with the polish normally does not exceed 2 minutes, so the action time is insufficient, as is the result.
- Rinses: Exactly the same thing happens, rinses are not in place long enough to whiten your teeth. Yes, some pastes and rinses use “makeup” agents that make the tooth appear whiter momentarily, but that's it, just makeup that is removed in just a few minutes.
- Splints: These are products that normally use low abrasive acids. They are useful since you can improve some tones from home and at a moderate price. The downside is that you have to wear them for about 30-60 minutes, they don't allow you to talk or drink, and obviously you have to do it at home.
- Whitening strips: they really are the evolution of splints, since the ingredient is in continuous contact with the enamel, ensuring its effectiveness and you can also apply them at any time, since they allow you to lead a normal life, talk, drink, etc.
Dr. Inuk whitening strips are a solution that allows you to obtain very good results, it will take 28 days to finish the treatment (18 days more than in the case of a treatment in a clinic) but the cost is much lower, less than 100 € if you choose quality strips.
Finally, emphasize the importance of using whitening strips and products that have been manufactured in Europe, since by law, these products cannot contain Peroxide and only in this way can the total safety of the consumer be guaranteed. There are numerous cases of products sold online that contain substances that can have an irreversible negative impact on enamel.