Whitening overview:

There are many different whitening options from which to choose when you decide to whiten your teeth. Some options include strips, toothpastes, trays and professional dental treatments. Any whitening overview should include all options but a talk with your dentist during a regular dental care visit can help answer all of your questions.

Obviously, getting your teeth cleaned regularly is one good way to improve their appearance but that does not ensure your teeth will be whiter. Contrary to popular believe, most people do not have totally white teeth no matter how well they take care of them. If they did, there would be little need for whitening overviews. Many people try the over the counter methods first and sometimes they do work. In other instances, professional dental whitening may be needed.

Whitening overview:

  • Whitening toothpastes : These are good for general stain removal. They often contain abrasives as well as polishing chemicals. Generally, these toothpastes will whiten your teeth about one shade.
  • OTC strips and gels: These do-it-yourself treatments usually last about 14 days and the result last about 4 months. Initial results are seen fairly quickly.
  • Tooth Whitening trays: There are both over the counter trays and those that can be obtained through your dentist. They are worn for a couple of hours every day or overnight.
  • Professional whitening : The cost of having your teeth professionally whitened is about $500-$1000 but the results are much more lasting. With bleaching, the chemical is applied directly to the teeth and is used with heat and/or a laser. Several appointments are needed but dramatic results are seen after the first treatment. Avoiding certain foods such as those with sugar and coffee help to maintain the whiteness even longer

The major difference in the whitening overview is that the chemicals that can be used by a dentist are much stronger than you can get over the counter. The treatments are also carefully monitored. Whitening pros and cons should be discussed with your dental professional during routine dental care.

There are several factors which will affect the outcome of any tooth whitening option. The general condition of the teeth, the amount of stain and the type of whitening options used all help to determine the outcome. In most cases, people are happy with the results of tooth whitening. You can discuss all of this with your dentist if you are considering any whitening product. It may be that an over the counter method could work for you. There are many thing to consider and your dentist can help you with that.

If using an over-the-counter method of tooth whitening , be sure to follow instructions carefully. Neglecting to follow directions usually means you will not get the results you desire.