Teeth Whitening 101

By Heather Steel on January 3rd, 2009

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.