Teeth whitening has become quite popular over the last 2 decades. From over the counter whitening toothpastes to teeth whitening strips to professional teeth whitening. People are in pursuit of that perfectly white smile. Teeth whitening is a positive thing if it makes you feel good about yourself.

Methods Of Teeth Whitening

There are multiple ways to achieve the same goal…..whiter teeth. Some methods can be done at home by yourself and others will need the supervision of a dental professional.

–Teeth Whitening Toothpastes. This method is probably the cheapest and easiest to use but also will give limited results. Many premium toothpastes now include teeth whitening ingredients to help you achieve a whiter, brighter smile. Unfortunately, teeth whitening tooth pastes have their negatives. The results are extremely variable from individual to individual. If your smile has extensive staining and discoloration, these toothpastes may not work as well as for someone who has very light discoloration and tooth staining. However we are brushing anyway, so why not give it a try and see what the results may bring for your individual smile.

–Teeth Whitening Strips. This method has an increased cost over the teeth whitening toothpastes and can give very good results. You can buy a box of teeth whitening strips at your local pharmacy.The active teeth whitening ingredients in the strips are generally the same as dentists use in their professional teeth whitening products but the concentration of the teeth whitening ingredients in the store bought products will come in at a much lower level. The drawback to the lower concentration of whitening ingredients is that they may not get your teeth to whiten as much as you would like. The other drawback is the application of the teeth whitening strips. The whitening strips must be placed across all the teeth evenly, and cannot be directly applied to one that is stained more. The fit is sometimes not the greatest, and they have the possibility to irritate periodontal tissues.

–Teeth Whitening With Custom Trays. This procedure is completed in a dental office. The custom trays fit your mouth comfortably and allow for an even distribution of the teeth whitening gel across all teeth or can only applied to specific teeth or even a single tooth. The trays can be worn day or night (even overnight) over a period of one to 4 weeks, and are very convenient for people with active schedules on the go. The other advantage is that this type of teeth whitening is that your dentist will use a stronger whitening agent. The main disadvantages to this type of teeth whitening versus the at home techniques is that the cost is higher, and sensitivity may be greater, but the results are usually far better.

–Teeth Whitening Performed In Dental Office. This is by far the highest cost, fastest, and generally most effective Teeth Whitening option available. This teeth whitening procedure is performed by your dentist using a special dental light and teeth whitening gel. This type of teeth whitening can deliver fantastic results in as little as 1/2 hour to one full hour. This teeth whitening technique utilizes a highly concentrated whitening agent accelerated by heat and light  to speed up the teeth whitening process. The disadvantage is the higher cost of  Teeth Whitening.

Teeth Whitening Conclusion

As written above there are many choices available for teeth whitening whether at home or in your dentist’s office. Discuss the various options for teeth whitening with your dentist to see what would be the best for your individual smile. Teeth whitening has seen a rapid growth. Talk to your dentist at your next visit to see what options are right for you.