Teeth Whitening Products

Today there are may options for teeth whitening products, from at-home kits to dental bleaching at the dentist's office. Each method has its own benefits and disadvantages, although all treatments work best for individuals with yellow teeth as opposed to those with fillings, crowns and veneers. When using teeth whitening products one thing should be kept in mind: don't have unrealistic expectations.

By far the most affordable, easy-to-use and common teeth whitening product is the whitening toothpaste. These toothpastes don't simply help remove surface stains on the teeth. Instead, they often implement chemicals that will boost the effectiveness of the stain-fighting power of toothpaste. Keep in mind, however, that whitening toothpastes only remove the surface stains of teeth and have no bleach. Hydrogen peroxide is instead the main ingredient and, while effective to a degree, will never get the level of whitening you'll see at a dentist's office. Keep in mind realistic expectations and understand that whitening toothpastes can only whiten your teeth about one shade while a dentist can get your teeth up to eight shades whiter.

Next comes the at-home whitening kits sold in stores. These products are more effective and costly than the toothpastes, although they can be a bit difficult to use. There are two main types of at-home kits: the whitening strips and the whitening gels. The strips are thin strips that are covered in a peroxide solution. You simply apply these strips to your teeth for about half an hour, repeating twice a day for two weeks. The most powerful whitening strips can cost up to $50 for a two-week treatment, although you can find kits for about $20. The second type of at-home kit for teeth whitening is the whitening gel. These gels are applied with a brush to your teeth twice a day for two weeks. Gel-based kits sell for about $15-20 for two-week treatments. Both at-home kits give results that are clearly visible in a couple of days and can last up to four months, unless the user is a heavy coffee or cigarette user. Neither of these products can give dentist-level whitening because they contain lower levels of peroxide; on the plus side, they're affordable and give a noticeable improvement.

Another type of teeth whitening product is the tray-based procedure. This type of product can be purchased over-the-counter at drugstores but is more commonly used in a dentist's office. Tray-based teeth whitening involves using a mouth guard-shaped tray that's filled with a peroxide-based gel. The tray is placed over the teeth and can be worn anywhere from 2 hours a day or overnight. Most often the tray is used for one month or longer, of course depending on the level of staining. Purchasing these systems from a dentist's office is usually the best route to take because they'll make an impression of the patient's teeth to create a custom mouthpiece for best results.

Lastly, the most effective, although costly, option for teeth whitening is a dentist's dental bleaching service. Having this procedure performed by a dentist means a number of things, including increased safety and a higher strength bleaching agent. Dentists use a protective gel over the gums when bleaching a patient's teeth to protect the gums from damage. The process, when performed by a dentist, will also take no more than one hour. Dentists use a product that contains up to 40% more hydrogen peroxide than at-home kits, meaning a better whitening job performed quickly. A professional performing a dental bleaching can even use a number of ways to speed up the process, including lasers, special lighting and heat applied directly to the chemical on the teeth. Results are immediately noticeable, although the best results can take a few sessions unless a laser-enhanced bleaching process is used, which provides the most dramatic results possible. Having a dentist bleach your teeth can cost around $400 for just the arch of your teeth, or up to $1,000 for your entire mouth. The cost, however, includes safety measures that will protect your gums and will be much more dramatic and long-lasting than any at-home option.

Remember that teeth whitening products are a great option for most people, except those with dental work like crowns and fillings, individuals with gum disease or exposed roots, people with sensitive teeth, pregnant women, or those with very dark stains. The level of whitening you're able to achieve with teeth bleaching or whitening products varies, and usually depends on cost. For most people, whitening toothpaste and the use of at-home kits may be enough. Others will require multiple dentist visits to whiten their teeth to a desirable shade. Try consulting your dentist before trying any technique to decide what will work best for you.