Last fact-checked 15 March 2020

Improve your smile with teeth whitening in Cali, Colombia when you are on vacation. It’s one of the easier ways of making a huge difference to your smile—and it will cost you around one-third of the price charged back home.

Situated southwest of Bogota and Medellin, the city of Cali is most famous for its love of Salsa dancing. The music is everywhere—shops, restaurants, taxis and even buses—but the best place to experience it is on the dancefloor. If you’ve got two left feet when it comes to Salsa, there are plenty of visitor-friendly classes where you can easily pick up the basics.

As with any other South American city, you will discover plenty of other cultural things to do in town; from checking out the impressive Cristo Rey statue to soaking up the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Barrio San Antonio or trying some local Colombian delicacies, Cali is starting to appear on the global travel radar for good reason.

Undoubtedly, the teeth whitening procedures available at the dentists are more effective than over-the-counter products, with  laser teeth whitening providing the most dramatic difference. However, dentists also offer at-home whitening kits, which while not as effective as laser teeth whitening, are still superior to over-the-counter treatments.

Not everybody is suitable for teeth whitening treatments. If you have tooth decay, gum disease or other oral health problems, teeth whitening can make matters worse, and the bleach contained in the treatments may cause sensitivity.

Some stains will not be removed by teeth whitening, such as antibiotic staining from tetracycline. The grey color that teeth have from antibiotic staining is on the inside of the teeth, rather than the outside, which no amount of bleaching products will change.

Another problem that is becoming increasingly common is the overuse of teeth whitening products. In this case, talk to a trustworthy dentist about your expectations, particularly if you’ve had teeth whitening before.

Teeth whitening treatments are safe, provided that the materials are obtained from reliable manufacturers, the procedure is performed by a professional (as the case may be) and that you don’t overuse them. Do remember this is a medical treatment after all, and there is evidence that using teeth whitening products too regularly can damage tooth enamel, cause sensitivity, gum irritation and in some cases, pain.

Compare the prices for teeth whitening in Cali with dental clinics at home:

The dentist will compare the color of your teeth with a shade chart before and after the treatment. This way, you can see how many shades whiter your teeth have become.

Laser teeth whitening treatment takes around one to two hours and only requires one visit to the dentist, making it ideal to have done while on vacation. During your initial consultation, the dentist will examine your mouth and take a detailed history from you to ensure you are suitable for the procedure.

After a color comparison, your teeth will be cleaned thoroughly by the dentist and a rubber dam placed around your teeth to protect your gums and tongue from the bleaching gel. Protective goggles are provided to shield your eyes from the bright light of the laser.

Your teeth are covered with the gel, and the laser applied. Some brands of laser teeth whitening system require the gel to be left on the teeth for 15 minutes, removed by the dentist and the process repeated another two times. For other systems, the gel is applied just once but left on the teeth for 45 minutes. After the final application of the gel and laser, the dentist removes all the gel and cleans the teeth again. The process is ended and the shade chart will reveal just how much whiter your teeth are following the procedure.

How Do Custom-Made at-Home Whitening Kits Work?

These require two visits to the dentist as impressions will need to be taken of your teeth. These are sent to a laboratory where trays are made to wear over your teeth, which will hold the whitening gel.

They should be ready to pick up after a few days; your dentist will demonstrate how to use them and this follow-up visit is normally very quick. Typically, a small amount of gel is placed inside the trays which are worn overnight while you sleep. In the morning, simply remove and clean the trays, as well as your teeth to remove all traces of the gel. This process is usually carried out every day for two weeks. You can reuse the trays again and get more gel from your dentist at home.

Generally, yes. But, just like anywhere else in the world, you should always choose a dentist with care. When searching with Dental Departures, you can be confident that all of the clinics you see have been fully checked and verified by us.

Our stringent vetting process includes checking criminal/legal records and carrying out onsite visits. You can see dentist qualifications and professional memberships on our site, along with patient reviews, prices, clinics photos and maps, giving you the opportunity to make an informed decision based on reliable information.

Book an appointment today for your teeth whitening in Cali online or speak to our Customer Care Team to find out more.

Sources:

Jones, Rachel. “Cali, Colombia: Your Local Guide to the World’s Salsa Capital”. Hippie in Heels. Website Accessed: 10 January 2019.

https://hippie-inheels.com/visiting-cali-colombia-travel-tips

Li, Yiming. “Tooth Whitening Safety Tips.” Dear Doctor. 1 November 2011.

https://www.deardoctor.com/inside-the-magazine/issue-19/tooth-whitening-safety-tips

Amos, Heather. “Teeth Whitening Can Cause Permanent Damage.” University of British Columbia. 6 January 2016.

https://news.ubc.ca/2016/01/06/teeth-whitening-can-cause-permanent-damage-ubc-prof

Stewart, Harry. The Top 10 Things to Do in Cali, Colombia. 7 November 2017. https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/colombia/articles/the-top-10-things-to-see-and-do-in-cali-colombia

Burhenne, Mark. Teeth whitening: what to know before you go. Ask the Dentist. January 2019.

https://askthedentist.com/teeth-whitening

Breaking Down Laser Teeth Whitening Cost. Colgate Oral Care Center. Website Accessed: 25 February 2019.

https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/teeth-whitening/breaking-down-laser-teeth-whitening-cost-0113