Home Teeth Whitening

At-home teeth whiteners are relatively cheap. On the other hand, in-office whitening lasts longer and is more reliable. So which teeth whitening method is best for you?
Before you make your decision, here are some general facts you should know about teeth whitening:

• There is a bleaching method that is fit for everyone. Everyone meaning every individual, every lifestyle, and every budget.

• Teeth whitening, when done properly, is totally safe and effective: Side effects, albeit common, are usually temporary and can be toned down to a minimum if you follow your dentist's instructions or at least the instructions on the package of your whitening kit.

• There is no whitening method that will provide you with permanent white teeth in just one or more steps. Once you make the decision to go white, make sure you are also willing to maintain your white teeth through proper care for years to come.

• Forget “whitening” toothpaste. Yes, they contain whiteners such as silica, aluminum oxide and calcium carbonate. Still, no one toothpaste will ever be able to reach the dentin inside your teeth which is the part that turns yellow as you age (not your surface enamel).

Now to the two basic categories of whitening methods. The first one is the traditional, set-an-appointment, in-office whitening. This is the kind performed by a dentist and also the kind that costs you more, but not for nada. Whiteners that are used in dental clinics are better because they contain more peroxide, meaning their effects are very rapid. On the other hand, it also means that this substance can be damaging if it remains on your teeth for too long. Because of the high concentration of peroxide used in in-office whitening, this method can result into over bleached teeth, sensitive teeth and gums, or worse yet, chemical burns. Chemical burns occur if the oxidizing agent found in the teeth whitener touches unprotected tissues in your mouth.

The second variety of teeth whitening is the one you either get prescribed by your dentist or get directly at the nearest drugstore. At-home teeth whitening, however, is recommended mainly to maintain the color of your teeth after an in-office whitening session. This is because at-home whitening is not really meant to be a long-term solution, but instead just a quick remedy. Using OTC teeth whitening kits for a long period can also result in a severe case of tooth and gum sensitivity and irritation.

Lastly, another difference between in-office and at-home whitening are the kinds of peroxide found in the whiteners. Hydrogen peroxide reacts with the saliva in the mouth rapidly and takes effect within several minutes. Carbamide peroxide, on the other hand, doesn't produce noticeable effects until after about two days, depending on the concentration used in the whitening gel. Although the difference between the two agents is relatively huge, the time you wait for the whitener to show results shouldn't really matter if you're really going after long-lasting effects.