Rewinding the Years: Dental Care Tips for Older Adults

At-home whitening is a safe and easy way to transform your smile without the need for expensive procedures. However, before you pick up a whitening kit and get started, keep the following tips in mind.

Visit a Cosmetic Dentist First

It may take a long time to see results with store-bought kits, but your dentist can sell you take-home kits that do a better job of whitening. Some people also opt to have professional whitening done at their dentist first, and then they can purchase an at-home whitening kit that can be used for touch-ups. You may prefer a touch-up kit since it will not take as long to whiten your teeth, and these kits will extend the lifespan of an in-office whitening appointment.

Also, you may want to purchase a kit from your dentist since they can fit you with a customized tray. They will take an impression of your mouth and fit you with a plastic tray that fits snugly around your teeth. When you are whitening your teeth at home, it will be easier to conserve the bleaching agent since it will spread more evenly in a custom tray.

Choose Whitening Pens Over Strips if You Can

While whitening is a safe procedure, the bleaching agent can cause gum irritation and sensitivity. With whitening strips, it's easy for the agent to seep out over your gums since these strips come in a one-size-fits-all size. However, if you get a whitening pen and tray, you can put a smaller amount of whitening agent on your teeth and avoid gum irritation. Although it may seem like the whitening pens don't have a lot of material, keep in mind that a little bleaching agent goes a long way.

Read the Kit's Instructions Carefully

You may be eager to have a whiter smile sooner rather than later, but keep in mind that it may take time to really see results. You may be tempted to whiten your teeth more often than the kit recommends, but again, this can cause sensitivity and make it uncomfortable to brush, floss, or eat very hot or cold foods. Plus, over-whitening doesn't produce quicker results — you may just run out of whitening gel more quickly. Follow the recommended whitening instructions and expect to see results within weeks instead of days.

Reach out to a cosmetic dentist in your area for more information about teeth whitening kits.