Alternatives to Teeth Whitening

You can get your teeth whitened by a dentist or use over-the-counter whitening products. Professional teeth whitening is faster and more effective than merchandise like whitening toothpastes and bleaching agents.

The professional teeth whitening process is carefully monitored to ensure your safety, which enables the use of more powerful bleaching agents to achieve better results. Dentists may also have access to technology such as ultra-violet (UV) lighting systems to intensify whitening.

In 2019, a respected dental organisation in the UK concluded that store-bought and online whitening products could be “a waste of money”.  The British Dental Association said these products were less effective than professional treatment and took longer, with the risk of damage to teeth.

Teeth Whitening in the Dental Chair

A single chairside teeth whitening appointment usually takes 90 minutes or less to produce dramatic results – teeth many shades whiter for months or even longer.

Treatment is customised to your particular needs to provide the precise level of brightness you’re looking for, in the areas you want it most.

It’s the most expensive teeth whitening option but the most effective, costing around $1,000 to $1,300 a session.

Prescription Teeth Whitening Trays

As an alternative to in-practice teeth whitening, your dentist can prescribe whitening trays for home use. Impressions of your mouth are taken so custom trays can be made for a precise, comfortable fit that ensures the whitening gel stays in contact with your teeth.

Wearing the bleaching trays for 30 minutes to one hour a day for two weeks is usually sufficient to achieve the desired results.

Take-home whitening trays generally cost $300 to $650.

Teeth whitening products available over the counter include whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes and bleaching gels and strips.

Unlike professional treatments, these products contain little if any peroxide bleaching agent. Singapore healthcare regulations stipulate that teeth whitening products with more than 0.1 percent of hydrogen peroxide can only be used by dentists.

This makes off-the-shelf teeth whitening products cheaper than professional treatment – from around $12 to $60 – but far less effective.

Whitening your teeth with store-bought products may require multiple applications before getting any perceptible results. The overall cost can therefore ultimately be comparable with that of getting prescription bleaching trays from your dentist.

Intrinsic staining

Intrinsic stains develop within a tooth and are usually purplish or greyish. Some people – especially older adults – have problems with both extrinsic and intrinsic tooth staining.

Extrinsic staining

Extrinsic – external – staining affects the enamel, outer surface of teeth. It’s usually caused by tobacco use or frequent consumption of drinks with a dark pigment, such as tea, coffee or red wine.

Intrinsic staining

Intrinsic stains develop within a tooth and are usually purplish or greyish. Some people – especially older adults – have problems with both extrinsic and intrinsic tooth staining.

Porcelain Dental Veneers

Porcelain dental veneers are tooth-coloured, ultra-thin shells that are custom fitted to the front of teeth.

They can keep your smile bright for 15 years or longer and, unlike natural teeth, are stain resistant.

Made from medical-grade ceramic, porcelain veneers look like real teeth because they’re semi-transparent and react to light in the same way as dental enamel.

They not only mask stained teeth but can also enhance the appearance of teeth that are chipped or cracked or slightly misaligned.

Tooth Bonding

Like porcelain veneers, tooth bonding – or dental bonding – also fixes problems such as stained teeth and chipped teeth.

One of the most affordable dental cosmetic options, tooth bonding produces immediate results.

It entails bonding a dental composite resin directly to the surface of a tooth. The colour of the resin is matched to your teeth for a natural appearance.

Dental bonding can generally be done in one appointment and takes 30 to 60 minutes per tooth.

Tooth-Coloured Fillings

If a dental cavity is spoiling your smile, a tooth-coloured filling can restore its natural appearance and strengthen functionality.

These fillings are made from acrylic or plastic. Unlike grey or silver amalgam fillings, composite resin fillings match the colour of real teeth.

A tooth-coloured filling can last up to five years before needing replacement.

Dental Crowns

Unlike veneers, dental crowns cover the whole surface of a tooth and provide a solution when a tooth has lost so much structure that a filling wouldn’t be sufficient or a large filling has become compromised.

Crowns are typically made from metal, porcelain fused to metal, or full porcelain.

Full porcelain crowns are favoured for the best aesthetic results to match the natural colour and translucency of teeth.

Some people look to homemade remedies as an alternative to professional teeth whitening or off-the-shelf whitening products.

Some teeth whitening remedies are harmless but others could damage your teeth, including:

• Using a mixture of activated charcoal powder and water. This might irritate your gums if you don’t rinse your mouth very thoroughly.
• Brushing your teeth with a paste made from strawberries and baking soda. Acid in the strawberries is bad for tooth enamel.
• Rinsing your mouth with apple cider vinegar. This can also erode enamel.

There are several natural methods for whitening your teeth at home safely. These include:
• Regular brushing and flossing.
• Using a baking soda paste (without the strawberries).
• Eating apples, which increases saliva to flush away acids.
• Cutting down on dark-coloured foods and drinks.
• Avoiding smoking or chewing tobacco.

With so many teeth whitening options and alternatives available, there’s no need to put up with the embarrassment of stained or yellowed teeth.

The most effective way to get a sparkling smile is through a dentist offering a range of cosmetic treatments such as whitening, veneers, tooth bonding and tooth-coloured fillings and crowns.

NoFrills Dental can help you decide which of these procedures is right for you.