Which is Better? Home or in Office Teeth Whitening

by delon on May 27th, 2010

filed under Teeth Whitening

Which Is Better? Home or In Office Teeth Whitening

Being health conscious is a very good sign and while you are concerned about your fast growing body weight and the rise in cholesterol numbers, you must look after your teeth as well. Earlier dentistry was just a two fold treatment procedure- a) tooth repair and b) cleaning. But today, teeth whitening and cosmetic dentistry has become a huge business. People are eager to spend fortunes to have sparkling teeth. Some of them don’t even hesitate to think about the abnormal price of the sessions; all they need is a glittering smile and pearly white teeth.

As there has been a significant growth in the cosmetic dentistry business many teeth whitening products have come in. This has created a lot of confusion in the minds of the common mass who are trying to find the best option for their teeth. Confusion begins when a person cannot understand what to choose; whether to go by the in office teeth whitening procedures or to opt for at-home teeth whiteners. Before reaching a conclusion you must know all the factors you must consider before choosing either of the procedures.

The first factor that needs to be considered is the kind of treatment that you are looking for. Is it just about teeth whitening or cleaning? Do you want something more than just whitening? You need to understand your issue of concern first. If your issue is just about teeth whitening you can stick to the good old at-home procedures or over-the-counter toothpastes and gels. But if you need a better treatment you will have to see a dentist.

In office teeth whitening refers to the procedure that involves the application of the whitener or gel or bleach by the dentist in the dental office, whereas at-home teeth whitening is basically a simple process where the person concerned can take the materials for bleaching his teeth at home and then perform the treatment accordingly. It is basically unsupervised.

The bleaching treatments done at home can take longer time than usual and might not generate the best results that it could otherwise have. But with in office teeth whitening treatments a person can expect to get the best results in very short span of time under proper medical supervision, which is definitely an added advantage.

However, if your question is about the best kind of teeth whitening procedure, the answer would vary. The best treatment depends on several factors: the time that you can give to your treatment procedure, your personal temperament and also your affordability i.e.; how much you can spend for your teeth whitening treatment.

Considering the at-home teeth whitening procedures, the patient needs to have enough knowledge about the procedure and how it is carried out. He should be capable of carrying out as well as complying with the instructions and techniques. This is a drawback. Also the person needs to have patience and time to carry out the procedures after all the work. The result of the at-home whitening treatments cannot be predicted; it can take months for some people to get the perfect results. But at-home procedures are cheap and that’s probably the biggest advantage it has.

Nonetheless, the in office whitening treatments is less time consuming and results can be expected almost immediately. The whitening can be noticed in just a single session or two. But professional procedures are very expensive and it’s the biggest drawback. This is probably one of the reasons why people prefer to stick to at home whitening treatment procedures.

If you want to know which a better option is, you’ll have to ask yourself. It is you who knows whether you want the results immediately and would like to spend a big amount for the purpose or not. If you are considering the at home procedures ask yourself if you have the time to do it. Your answers would help you decide which the better option for you is. However, both the options are good enough and can be tried.

Anti-aging Naturally is Better

by delon on April 3rd, 2009

filed under Anti Aging

When it comes to anti-aging people are willing to do most anything to “turn back the clock”. Everything except the easiest solution ‘ Prevention! We all know, mostly do to media hype, that the sun can cause us to age more rapidly. Because of this knowledge, people have begun to be using more and more sun block as their anti-aging tool.

Did you know that part of the anti-aging fight could start with the foods you put in your body everyday? One of the best anti-aging tools we can find is food with antioxidants.

Foods that contain Vitamins C and E should be part of your daily food intake as well. Vitamins C and E are important because they help fight free radicals, which are forms of unstable oxygen that can render or damage healthy cell function. These forms of oxygen are formed naturally by the metabolism. We also produce them when we are exposed to strong ultraviolet rays and air pollution such as smoke. When these “free radicals” build up in our body they aid in the progression of age and even in developing age related diseases. So in the fight on anti-aging you will definitely want to take in Vitamins C and E daily. But these aren’t the only nutrients you will want to take in daily for anti-aging. You will need protein, calcium, and Vitamin D. Making sure you get these much needed nutrients on a regular if not daily basis can help with anti-aging.

There are several foods that rank high on the recommended list for anti-aging foods because of their natural ability to rid the body of toxins. One that kept coming up while researching this topic was Blueberries. Several other foods were listed even many other berries. But blueberries always seemed to top the list of anti-aging foods, because they are naturally high in anthocyanin. This is an antioxidant found in their blue pigment.

This is not only good for anti-aging, but it help fight cell damage, which could cause cancer, heart disease and many other age related diseases. It is even suggested that blueberries could reverse short -term memory loss and aid in the improvement of motor skills.

Although blueberries ranked high on the anti-aging food chart several, other fruits were highly recommended as well. Kiwis for example are loaded with antioxidants and fiber. Apples were recommended for healthier lungs. Tangerines are believed to reinforce healthy bones and cherries aid in preventing gout.

All of this is very important to consider when trying discovering a natural anti-aging regimen, because when your body is unhealthy you look and feel bad. When you look and feel bad and run down your body will age.

So, I guess the bottom line here is…good nutrition is the best solution to anti-aging. Naturally that is!

Will I get a Better Result From Professional Teeth Whitening Services?

by delon on February 10th, 2009

filed under Teeth Whitening

Have you noticed all the teeth whitening products that are available today? A casual stroll down the aisles of your favorite pharmacy or superstore reveals shells filled with products promising a whiter, sexier smile. Almost everyone would love to have whiter teeth. If you struggle with stains and discoloration, you may find it difficult to smile. A bright, Hollywood smile is considered by many to be more youthful and attractive. Because whiter teeth are in such high demand, there seems to be a new teeth whitening product released every day. But are they really effective? Can you achieve good results on your own at home, or do you need to go for professional teeth whitening?


At first glance, over-the-counter and professional teeth whiteners may seem very similar. They both come with a tray that fits over your teeth. The tray is filled with tooth whitening gel and placed on your teeth for a short period of time every day for a couple of weeks. With each treatment, stains are removed and your teeth get whiter. Teeth whitening gel usually contain some form of peroxide, which penetrates your tooth enamel and removes stains through the process of oxidation.


Even though they look very much the same, there are actually several differences between tooth whitening products you can buy locally and professional teeth whitening treatments performed by your dentist. First of all, the teeth whitening gel used in most over-the-counter kits has a much lower strength than professional tooth whitener. Since over-the-counter preparations are used without supervision, there was concern that the higher concentrations used in professional tooth whitener might not be safe. The higher concentration of peroxide means that professional teeth whitening treatments will achieve more dramatic results.


When you purchase an over-the-counter tooth whitening kit, the trays that are included usually come in a one-size-fits-all design. As you know, one-size-fits-all usually means that one-size-fits-none-perfectly. Since there won’t be an exact fit to your teeth, there may not be optimal contact between your teeth and teeth whitening gel. There’s also a chance that the tray may irritate your gums or other parts of your mouth where the fit isn’t perfect. When you get professional teeth whitening, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth and create a tray specifically for you. This custom fit ensures better contact between the gel and your teeth and reduces the chance of gum irritation.


A professional teeth whitening process will probably also include some kind of extra protective measures to protect your gums from the oxidizing action of the peroxide gel. With over-the-counter products, there is no extra protection for your gums provided.


When you go to your dentist for professional teeth whitening, the entire process is supervised. Your dentist will start by determining the reason behind your stains and discoloration and to make sure that you’re a good candidate for teeth whitening. Certain kinds of stains may not respond well, even to professional tooth whitener. It would be better to know this before you spend money for teeth whitening products. If you’re dentist believes that whitening will work well for you, he can match the specific type of technique that you need for your specific situation. He will provide spot checks throughout the process, and will follow-up when the whitening is done to help keep your teeth as white as possible. With over-the-counter teeth whitening products, you’re pretty much on your own. If they don’t work, there’s really not much you can do about it.


By the way, you should realize that some people should not try tooth whitening of any kind. Tooth whitening is not recommended for anyone under the age of 16. Children are especially susceptible to nerve irritation and tooth sensitivity caused by teeth whitening products. Women who are pregnant and mothers who are nursing should avoid teeth whitening treatments. Obviously if you have allergies to peroxide you should avoid using any kind of peroxide gel.


Regardless of whether you use over-the-counter kits or visit your dentist for professional teeth whitening, try not to have unrealistic expectations. Experts recommend that your teeth should actually only be slightly whiter than the whites of your eyes. So don’t let Hollywood dictate how you think you should look. Find a look and a smile that’s right for you.