The Art of Teeth Whitening

More than ever, many people are concerned about the whiteness of their teeth. At home, you can choose from whitening toothpastes, whitening strips, whitening gels, and even at-home bleaching teeth trays. The general cost for these products ranges from five dollars to more than $100 for the most expensive systems. While not as effective as professional options, they can be successful against mild to moderate teeth yellowing.

Teeth whitening toothpastes give you a whiter smile through mild abrasive ingredients. They do not contain bleach, but hydrogen peroxide, which works to lift stains from your teeth from both the surface of your teeth and below. Whitening gels also contain a peroxide-based compound that is applied directly to your teeth using a small brush. Under a 14-day regimen, you can usually lift two to three shades of teeth stains. Treatments cost around $15 to $20 and last up to four months.

However, those with teeth sensitivity can be very susceptible to gels in particular, and may choose other methods. Whitening strips work the same way, but stay on your teeth for up to 30 minutes to give you prolonged exposure to the peroxide solution for enhanced results. Whitening trays can be worn for up to six hours a day, giving you the best at-home results as a rule.

Professional Options

At your dentist's office, you can improve your teeth shade up to eight times using professionally administered light-activated whitening systems. This process involves adding a bleaching agent directly to the teeth (with a safe concentration of bleach, not hydrogen peroxide) and activating it using a mixture of heat and a laser light to accelerate the whitening effect. Treatments are needed once every six to 12 months, and take less than an hour to complete each time. The cost is pricey though, ranging from $500 to $1,000 each.

There are even hybrid options that allow at-home users to get the professional results similar to those in a dentist's office. At www.expertwhitening.com, for example, you can order lab direct teeth whitening trays, gels, and bleaches without a prescription. These products are the same concentration as those dentists use and provide up to 40 percent better results than professional laser light treatments. Keep in mind, though, that those with acute teeth sensitivity may suffer from increased discomfort to hot and cold when eating, drinking, or brushing after any teeth whitening treatment, so check with your dentist before starting any regimen.