Those of us with a fondness for coffee, soda, red wine, or cigarettes know that keeping teeth white can be a challenge, even with excellent oral hygiene. Luckily the teeth whitening market continues to expand, providing us with a variety of options for getting our teeth back to their youthful color and sparkle. The two main categories of teeth whitening are at-home products and systems and professional teeth whitening. The at-home options have increased dramatically in the past five years. There are now a number of products to choose from depending on your lifestyle and budget. Here are just a few of the types of products that have emerged in recent years:
- Home bleaching trays, ranging from intensive kits that promise visible results within days to less expensive traditional kits that build results overtime with twice-daily application
- Bleaching pens, which work in a similar manner as the kits mentioned above but do not require the uncomfortable trays
- Bleaching strips, which also eliminate the trays but can be difficult to keep in place
- Whitening toothpastes, mouthwashes, and even gums
Professional teeth whitening is performed by a dentist or cosmetic dentist as an outpatient procedure. The dentist utilizes a whitening chemical such as hydrogen peroxide and in some cases a laser to speed up the whitening process. Professional whitening is considerably more expensive than at-home whitening systems but is generally more effective in a shorter period of time.
There are a variety of side effects associated with teeth whitening, ranging from somewhat common tooth sensitivity to chemical burns in rare cases. It is always a good idea to speak with a dentist before starting any teeth whitening system.
