Teeth whitening has
become enormously popular over the last several years.
It seems everyone is now searching for the "perfect" way
to whiten their teeth. Because of this demand,
there are now dozens of products and procedures
available that all claim to be the "best" at whitening
teeth.So, how do you go about choosing the
right teeth whitening product or procedure? Not to
worry, this page breaks down the basics you'll need to
know before making any decision. From here, you
can check out other pages on aspects that interest you
or go straight to our
teeth whitening reviews for
specific recommendations.
Why teeth need whitening
Before we get to specific teeth whitening products
and technologies, we wanted to give you a little
background on why teeth are or get "off-white".
First of all, everyone has a baseline tooth color that
is unique. This is largely due to an individual's
genetics.
Your baseline tooth color may be very white while
mine may
be very dark. Now, due largely to
chromogenic agents such as red wine, smoking, tea,
coffee, and soda, teeth darken over time. This is
because teeth tend to absorb these agents which causes
staining.
Keep in mind this is not a complete list of things
that stain teeth. Certain antibiotics, excessive
swallowing of fluoride, and other factors can also
"darken" teeth.
How teeth can be whitened
Basically, there are really only two methods in which
teeth can be bleached or whitened. First, teeth
can be bleached, which changes the baseline tooth color
for an individual. Most teeth whitening products
or methods utilize some form of peroxide to achieve this
end.
Second, teeth can be whitened by physical or chemical
action to assist in removing surface stains. This
method will not get a person's teeth any whiter than
their baseline color.
Teeth whitening products/procedures
currently available
Six different tooth whitening options are now
available to most people. Each of these
products/methods has it's advantages and disadvantages.
Should one or more of these options interest you, we
have a separate, more detailed page set-up on this
website.
All of the products recommended in our teeth
whitening reviews utilize one of these methods.
-
Brush-on Products- these
allow you to brush-on a thin layer of peroxide that
is generally to be left on overnight
-
Teeth Whitening Strips-
here a thin strip containing hydrogen peroxide is
put on the teeth and left for a certain period of
time
-
Teeth Whitening Toothpaste-
usually contain a polishing or chemical component
that gently removes surface stains
-
At Home Kits- contains a
mouthpiece you form at home. Then a thin layer
of carbamide or hydrogen peroxide gel is applied to
the tray. The tray is then left in the mouth
for a certain period of time
-
Custom At-Home Kits- same as
above except you make an impression of your teeth,
send it to a lab, and then they send you back a
custom mouthpiece
-
Dental Visit- your dentist
will either recommend a variation of number 5 above
or will use a new laser treatment that works by
shining an intense light on a bleaching solution
that is applied to your teeth
How peroxide works
Since most of the more effective products and
treatments utilize peroxide, we thought a short primer
on how it works would be appropriate.
Most teeth whitening products contain carbamide
peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide works by
lightening the stains that exist on your teeth. As
it is broken down in your mouth, oxygen acts upon the
stained deposits in your teeth. They are then
oxidized or "bleached" into a whiter color.
Is it safe?
In a nutshell, yes. The ADA (American Dental
Association) has itself stated the following on its
website:
"Accumulated clinical data on neutral ph10
percent carbamide peroxide continue to support both
the safety and effectiveness of this kind of tooth
whitening agent"
Studies have shown that teeth whitening does not
change a person's tooth enamel. The safety of most
teeth whitening methods has been demonstrated in many
studies over the last 10-15 years. Furthermore,
carbamide peroxide has been shown to have no
carcinogenic risk when used correctly.
Side Effects
Although teeth whitening is not harmful when done
correctly, several side effects do occur in some cases.
The most common reported side effects are increased
sensitivity to hot and cold and irritated gums while the
product is being used.
How complicated is all this?
The whole process is really not that complicated.
There are those who try to make it sound a lot more
complicated than it really is. The average person
generally will have no problem whitening their own teeth
considerably in the comfort of their own home.
Summary
Hopefully this page has provided you with the basics
on teeth whitening. More detailed information is
available on each method discussed on separate pages.
As more and more people wish to get a whiter smile,
these products will continue to grow in popularity.
The key is finding which product is right for you!
