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The question I’m most frequently asked is “What’s the best way to whiten my teeth?”. It might surprise you to know that the answer is different for everyone! It depends on what you’re trying to achieve as well as your desired investment. What works for a teenager with only a few years of staining on their young teeth is totally different than what will work for someone 70 years young. 

If You’re On A Budget: Over-The-Counter Products

Whitening toothpaste, whitening strips, whitening gel pens. Most of these products will work! But only for achieving about a shade lighter. They may cause sensitivity, and they are time-intensive. You’ll need to be consistent with using them to achieve a noticeable difference. That being said, these drugstore products will work and they are the most bank account friendly!

If Time is Money: Light Activated Whitening

This is what I recommend to patients who just want a little boost to their smile. The process takes about an hour and a half at the dental office and will get your teeth about a shade lighter. Many companies advertise a result of several shades lighter, however the average result is similar to what you’ll achieve with over-the-counter products. This is what I recommend to patients who want a little brightening, but don’t want to wear strips or trays at home. It’s perfect for a boost right before a special event!

If Your Teeth Need A Lot Of Love: KöR Whitening

This is an unparalleled product. KöR Whitening will achieve dramatically whiter, brighter, natural teeth. I say natural, because porcelain veneers will also achieve that white Hollywood smile, but we’ll save that for another Q + A session.

This is an investment both financially and time-wise, but it will give you flawless results. Impressions are taken of your teeth and sent to the specialty KöR lab in California. Custom whitening trays will be made specifically for you. They’re precision designed to seal at the gumline so you don’t damage your delicate gums with the whitening gel. They take about two weeks to be made and sent back to your dentist.

Your custom trays are used with KöR Whitening Gel overnight for at least two weeks. For darker teeth, more senior teeth, or tetracycline stained teeth it will take longer. The great thing about this process is you keep whitening until you’re happy with the color! You have total control and whiten until you are pleased with the result. The KöR products are very gentle to your enamel and can be used for an extended length of time to achieve the result you desire. Once you’ve reached the level of brightness you want, a “touch up” whitening is done once a month to ensure they never fade.This is what I recommend to patients who want their smile to illuminate the room and are willing to put in the time. It’s the gold standard of whitening products!

Start a Dialogue!

A great place to start is by thinking about your lifestyle… Are you on a tight schedule, do you follow directions well, do you consume a lot of coffee or red wine? All of these will help point you towards what product is best for you and be the perfect starting off point to discuss with your dentist! As always, reach out with your questions!