Can I Professionally Whiten My Teeth at Home?

If wishing made it so, our bright, white smiles would last forever. However, the truth remains that your smile is constantly under attack. Everything from the inevitable effects of time to the things we eat and drink cause our smiles to gradually discolor over time. 

But just because your smile has lost its shimmer, that doesn’t mean you don’t have options. 

Dr. Ryan Fait, our expert dentist at Southern California General & Cosmetic Dentistry, located in Long Beach and Avalon, California, knows that a beautiful-looking smile is just as essential as a healthy one. That’s why we offer a variety of cosmetic dentistry services, including teeth whitening treatments that fit your schedule. 

Here’s a closer look at how you can whiten your teeth when and where you want.

The power of in-office treatments in your home

Although our in-office teeth whitening treatments are the most effective ways to brighten your smile, we understand that it’s not always the most convenient. Fortunately, we offer the Philips Zoom!® whitening system, which gives you the option to whiten your smile when it works best for you. 

The process is simple and only requires two brief appointments with Dr. Fait. First, we need to take an impression of your teeth so we can customize the plastic whitening trays to your exact specifications. Then, when the trays are ready, you return to our office so we can make sure they fit properly and explain the whitening kit.

You walk away with the power of in-office treatments in your hands. 

But Zoom! doesn’t stop at the convenience of at-home whitening — you can also decide when you whiten with the Philips Zoom DayWhite and the Philips Zoom NiteWhite systems.

Philips Zoom DayWhite

If you’re looking to wear your trays for as little time as possible, Philips Zoom DayWhite is the best option for you. This system requires that you wear your trays for 30 minutes once a day for two weeks.

Philips Zoom NiteWhite

The NiteWhite option requires that you wear your trays for a longer period (2-4 hours or overnight), but it allows you to whiten your smile as you sleep.

The Zoom! take-home process

Whether the DayWhite or NiteWhite systems work best for you, the steps are the same. When you’re ready to whiten your teeth, make sure you brush your teeth thoroughly beforehand. 

Put a teardrop size of whitening gel in each impression of your tray, and then gently place the trays over your teeth. Once the prescribed time is up, remove the trays, rinse them with cold water, and brush your teeth again. 

Where other kits fall short

If it’s all about convenience, why can’t you just grab a whitening kit the next time you’re at the store or order something online? These DIY kits may sound like the fastest track to a whiter smile, but they almost always disappoint. That’s because the ingredients in those products are much weaker than the take-home treatments you can get from our office. 

Zoom! products boast some of the highest concentrations of bleaching agents available, which means you get the results you’re promised. Bonus: each take-home formula is uniquely designed to protect your enamel and reduce sensitivity — something your store-bought kit can’t promise.

Ready to take your first steps towards a whiter smile? We’d love to talk with you. Call or click to schedule an appointment at our Long Beach or Avalon, California, office today.