Overview

Teeth whitening is one of the easiest ways to improve your appearance. Whiter teeth can boost your self-esteem and confidence. Years of drinking coffee, tea, cola, red wine, and smoking eventually takes their toll on teeth. The results are dull, yellowish-colored teeth. Some teeth may have darker gray-colored stains due to antibiotics. Most teeth will benefit from tooth whitening. Teeth whitening is a proven safe and effective way to brighten stained, discolored teeth.

Your dentist has a variety of methods for restoring a bright white smile including porcelain veneers, composite bonding, implants and whitening, also known as bleaching. However, of all the advances made in dentistry to enhance the appearance of the teeth, whitening is the easiest and least invasive, and effective for 3 out of 4 cases. The procedure is safe, simple, and more affordable than ever before. Because of these reasons and more, whitening has become very popular.

Should I consult a dentist about teeth whitening?

You may want to start by speaking with your dentist. They can tell you whether whitening procedures would be effective for you. Whiteners may not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellowish hued teeth will probably bleach well, brownish-colored teeth may not bleach as well, and grayish-hued teeth may not bleach well at all.

Bleaching may not enhance your smile in the event you have had bonding or tooth-colored fillings placed in your front teeth. The whitener will not affect the color of these materials and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile. You may want to investigate other options in this case such as porcelain veneers or dental bonding.

What teeth whitening methods are available to me?

All whitening products contain peroxide either as carbamide peroxide (CP) or hydrogen peroxide (HP). Peroxide dissolves the organic stains in the tooth to change the color and produce a whitened effect.

There are four types of peroxide-containing tooth whitening products available:

* In-practice products are applied by a dental professional. These products contain a high percentage of CP or HP and are applied directly to the teeth. Some activated by heat, light, or laser. This may be the product for you if you