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Teeth whitening has become a trend recently. For people without fillings and healthy gums, teeth whiting is ideal to brighten a smile. Teeth with yellowish tones respond best.
Teeth whitening is not recommended for women who are pregnant or children under the age of 16. Since peroxide is the whitening agent, anyone allergic to peroxide will not be able to have his or her teeth whitened. If you have sensitive teeth and gums or receding gums you should consult your dentist before using any home teeth whitening product.
To whiten your teeth, you can use an over the counter product and do it yourself at home or go to your dentist and have him do it professionally.
There are whitening toothpastes you can buy. Mild abrasives are used with all toothpastes to help remove surface stains. Gentle polishing or chemical agents are used in some whitening toothpastes to provide additional stain removal but since they do not contain bleach, or hydrogen peroxide, which is a bleaching substance, they can only help remove surface stains. A whitening toothpaste can whiten your teeth by about one shade of color.
There are also whitening strips and gels you can use at home to whiten your teeth at home. To whiten your teeth with a gel, you apply the peroxide-based gel with a small brush directly to the surface of your teeth. Whitening strips can also be used for teeth whitening. Peroxide-based whitening gel are on the strips, which you place on the teeth for 30 minutes. Both strips and gels are used twice a day. Teeth whitening will be seen within a few days with the final results visible within 14 days. The teeth whitening will last for about four months with both of these. The teeth whitening will be much lower than the results you can get from your dentist.
Tray-based tooth whitening procedures are the most traditional types of teeth whitening. Teeth whitening trays can be purchased over the counter or through your dentist office. A tray or mouth guard filled with a gel containing a peroxide-bleaching agent is placed over the teeth and worn for a period of time, usually a couple of hours or over night everyday. The length of the procedure depends on the desired level of whitening and the degree of staining.
The main difference between do it yourself teeth whitening and having the dentist whiten your teeth are the strength of the bleaching agent used, the mouthpiece trays, the speed of the bleaching and the cost.
For at home mouthpiece trays, supervised by a dentist for teeth whiting, the dentist makes an impression of your teeth and customizes your mouthpiece. This allows a maximum contact between the teeth whitening gel and the teeth and less contact to the gums. The bleaching agent in the teeth whitening gel can irritate gums and soft tissue. The teeth whitening bleaching agent is applied directly to the teeth in office procedures.
Teeth whitening, either dentist supervised or do it your self at home usually needs to be applied every day for 1 or 2 hours or overnight for up to 4 weeks. The quickest and most effective way to whiten teeth is the in-office bleaching. Teeth whitening results are seen in one 30 - 60 minute treatment. Lights and heat can also be used to accelerate the teeth whitening process. In most cases, to see dramatic results in teeth whitening, several appointments are needed. Dramatic teeth whitening results can be seen after the first treatment with laser-enhanced bleaching, though.
Dentist supervised at home teeth whitening vary depending on where you live and the extent of the procedure but generally range in cost from $150 - $300 per upper or lower set of teeth or $300 - $600 for both upper and lower. You can expect to pay $500 - $1,000 to have your all of your teeth whitened in an in-office bleaching. The lest expensive form of teeth whitening is over the counter do it your self at home procedures which run any where from $20 - $150.
Using your dentist for teeth whitening has other advantages such as your dentist can examine your teeth and consider your entire medical history. He or she can also advise you on the best method to whiten your teeth. If using a mouthpiece tray, he/she will have you come in for follow up visits during the procedure to ensure the tray is fitting properly and not irritating your gums.
Using a do it yourself, at home over the counter procedures means you are on your own. If the method you choose is not the best for the types of stains you have, the results you get may not be near what you expected. Using teeth whitening trays at home should be done keeping this advice at hand:
- Some mouthpieces in kits come with trays that can be adjusted to a degree. Be wary of one-size fits all trays.
- If any increased tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods and beverages, or if your gums change color for an extended period of time, stop wearing the mouthpiece and see your dentist immediately.
- Ask others who have tried the kits you are considering.
There are some risks involved in teeth whiting. A mild irritation of the soft tissues of the mouth and increased tooth sensitivity are the two most common side effects.
Sensitivity due to teeth whitening can be reduced or eliminated by:
- Asking your dentist or pharmacist for a high fluoride-containing product.
- Using a too paste made for sensitive teeth.
- Stop whitening your teeth for a few days or wear the tray for a shorter period of time.
The teeth whitening products you get through your dentists’ offices as well as any in-office products have received the ADA Seal of Acceptance. No over the counter teeth whitening products currently have this. The ADA believes professional consultation is important to ensure safe and effective use of teeth whitening.
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