Products and services of a dental professional can help with whitening your teeth.

Who loves a steaming cup of coffee to start their day? How about fresh berries by the handful, in pies or in smoothies at the peak of the season? A glass of red wine with friends?

These foods and drink are certainly delicious, and each has its own health benefits—antioxidants, phytonutrients, resveratrol, among others. But these (and other) foods also have staining power.

To continue to enjoy the taste and health benefits without sacrificing the brightness of your smile, you may need to consider teeth whitening. But what whitening products really work?

Good Whitening Results

The easiest way to whiten your smile is with whitening toothpastes.

Pros: Brushing daily with a whitening toothpaste is easy and cost-effective. It doesn’t require any change in your at-home dental care routine, just a change in product.

Cons: Whitening toothpaste takes several weeks before noticeable results…if results are possible. Stubborn stains and/or thin enamel may keep you from seeing any difference with whitening toothpaste alone. Some whitening toothpastes can also make teeth sensitive, particularly to cold temperatures.

Whitening toothpastes may work better to maintain professional whitening results.

Recommendations: Opalescence® Whitening toothpaste

Better Whitening Results

Even if whitening toothpastes don’t achieve the results you want, better whitening results are still possible at home. Gels and trays are able to deliver stronger concentrations of whitening agents than toothpastes.

Pros: At-home applications are cheaper than whitening options that require professional application.

Cons: Although designed for easy use, trays and gels are messier than simple toothpastes. And, to get gels and take-home trays that really deliver, you still need professional-strength products, which you can only get from your dentist.

Recommendations: Opalescence® Whitening Gels, Whiter Image Chic-Flic Teeth Whitening & Lip Gloss Plumper Pen

Best Whitening Results

To really get your teeth whiter, you need the help of your dentist. Laser teeth whitening is the most effective way to achieve results. The use of light activates the whitening agent and penetrates deeper into your teeth, helping you achieve better, longer-lasting results.

Pros: Laser teeth whitening can brighten your teeth up to eight shades in about an hour. Results last for months, even years (depending on your diet and other lifestyle factors).

Cons: Laser teeth whitening can only be administered by a dental professional, so it requires an office visit.

Recommendations: Zoom! laser teeth whitening

Get Your Brightest, Whitest Smile

Truth be told, most over-the-counter products that claim to whiten teeth just don’t work as promised. Any results will be weeks in coming, and almost always brings sensitivity issues with it. To get faster, longer-lasting teeth whitening results, seek the help and recommendations from your dentist.

If you’re dentist is Dr. Gabriel Roybal, DDS, you’re in luck! Not only do we use the Zoom! laser teeth whitening system to give you the best results, we almost always have specials on Zoom! teeth whitening to make it more affordable.

Call us or contact us online to make your teeth whitening appointment today!