If you have visited the toothpaste aisle at your Scottsdale WalMart, you have probably noticed dozens of products that claim to whiten your teeth. A few years ago, the only over-the-counter tooth whitening options in Arizona were whitening toothpastes and Crest Whitestrips. Now there is a wide variety of products at every drugstore counter in the Phoenixarea.

Whitening Rinses
Whitening rinses are similar to mouthwashes. They kill bacteria, freshen breath and may help remove plaque. Whitening rinses, however, contain tooth-whitening ingredients not found in mouthwashes. Manufacturers advise taking a mouthful of the rinse and letting it slosh around on your teeth for one minute twice a day. Though this method is simple, many users never notice a lightening of their teeth. This is probably because the rinse does not touch your teeth long enough to truly whiten them.

Whitening Strips
The whitening strips you can buy in Scottsdale grocery stores have a couple of drawbacks. Though they contain a bleaching agent, it is much less potent than those used in Arizona dental offices. Another problem is that they do not whiten between teeth because the strips only touch the front surface. Though it is possible to remove stains, it can take months to see any whitening. By that point, you have probably spent more money than you would have if you’d have chosen the professional system at your Scottsdale tooth whitening dental clinic.

Teeth Whitening Gels
Whitening gels are painted onto teeth with a small brush. One problem with whitening gels is that they only stick to dry teeth. If any saliva gets on the teeth during treatment, the gel is more likely to slide off.

If you are serious about dramatically whitening your teeth, the safest, quickest, and most affordable system is at your Scottsdale dental office.

Harris Dental has an outstanding Scottsdale office located at 20511 N Hayden Rd, Ste 150. Our phone number is 480-428-0040. You can find more information about our Scottsdale dental practice online at /scottsdale/.