Last Updated - October 2005
Walk down the Oral Care aisle at any grocery or drug store and you’ll find a dizzying amount of teeth whitening products.
Strips, gels, brushes, toothpaste, pens and trays line the shelves... Do these products work? What is the best teeth whitening
product for you? We'll try to help you make that decision by giving you all the facts upfront. We are not dentists or doctors
and before trying out any products, we highly recommend that you ask your dentist or doctor any dental or heath-related questions.
Teeth whitening is becoming increasingly popular as do-it-yourself (DIY) teeth whitening products are readily available
to the masses. No visits to a dentist to get similar results (maybe).
What Is Tooth Whitening?
Tooth whitening is a process of lightening the color of teeth. It is a bleaching process that lightens discolorations of
enamel and dentin. How much whiter? With professional teeth whitening treatment, it gets teeth an average of 6 to 9
shades whiter in just one hour, about 6 shades whiter for home systems taking days or weeks, and about 2 shades whiter for
whitening toothpaste or strips taking more than a month.
Professional Bleaching
Most dentists will bleach your teeth using trays that are custom fitted to your teeth and that are filled with a
professional grade whitening gel. The tray is an inconspicuous appliance designed to fit comfortably over the teeth
and holds the whitening gel in place. Such services can be very expensive with prices ranging from $1000 to $2000, but will be
effective. If you dentist uses the whitening gel, you will have to wear the tray every night for 1 to 2 weeks. If your
teeth are in really bad condition there are simple surface cleanings that the dentist can do without the whitening gel
that will make a large difference. Results are usually seen at the first appointment. Darker stained teeth may require
multiple appointments.
BriteSmile is a one hour professional teeth whitening treatment that is fast, simple and remarkably effective.
It is one of the largest and most advanced teeth whitening clinics in the world.
They have clinics in most US cities and almost every large international city. BriteSmile
offers a tooth whitening service that takes about one hour and will make your teeth over 9 shades whiter.
The treatment uses a chemical treatment on your teeth in combination with a light treatment to speed up the whitening process.
The results of the treatment should last for 2 to 4 years with whitening maintenance products.
Home Bleaching
The system uses a mild solution retained in a fitted appliance that is worn over your teeth.
Some trays are not moldable to your teeth thus does not hold the bleaching gel in the proper position.
Most home systems have less effective active ingredients or a lower concentration of these necessary ingredients
for teeth whitening. Results are usually seen in the first week. Maximum results occur over the next 2 to 3 weeks.
Whitening Toothpaste
Most major brands (e.g. Crest, Colgate, Aquafresh) offer whitening versions of their toothpaste. Their products have all
been approved by the American Dental Association (ADA) which has clear standards for safety and effectiveness. If the
product carries the ADA seal, you know that it will the product was tested and will not be harmful to your teeth or the
soft tissue in your mouth and will slightly whiten your teeth. It works well to maintain whitening but it will not
whiten teeth much more than 2 shades whiter.
Whitening Strips
The same major toothpaste brands have other teeth whitening products, including whitening gels and whitening strips.
Crest has a tooth whitening gel called Night Effects and tooth whitening strips called Whitestrips. The whitening gel
is a product you put on your teeth after brushing, let dry and leave on your teeth overnight. The whole process takes
2 weeks. The Whitestrips are placed on your teeth directly for 30 minutes twice a day. It can take as little as three
days to notice a difference in the color of your teeth, but the whole whitening process usually takes about a week.
Teeth whitening strips are thin, flexible pieces of plastic that have been coated on one side with a thin film of
hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent. When used, whitening strips are positioned across the user's teeth and
then gently pressed into place so to insure maximum contact between the whitener and the surface of each tooth that
will receive treatment.
If you have crooked teeth, the strips may not touch every single tooth. Then you would bleach unevenly, so in this case
you would want to use a scrubbing ampule.
How To Choose?
Professional treatments range from $500 to $1,000, twice a year. At-home kits can cost $40 but as low as $3 for
teeth whitening toothpaste. Depending on the current condition (color) of your teeth, you can start off with whitening
strips and progress next to whitening toothpaste. If neither shows any improvements after a month or so, we
recommend trying one of the home kits. But read and follow the instructions carefully. If not, we highly
recommend going for professional tooth whitening.
Cautions
Some people bleach their teeth too much. Nancy Rosen, a New York cosmetic dentist, told ABC’s Primetime Live (Feb 3, 2005)
that 'bleachorexics' can whiten their teeth too much, causing irreversible damage. Tooth damage includes being sensitive to
cold and hot or stripping the teeth enamel. Instead of pearly whites, you can end up with teeth that look very translucent
at the edges and almost bluish in color. The rule of thumb is to bleach every six months to a year, she says. As for
over-the-counter products, she says they work well.
Also Dr. Rosen says, over-the-counter products would not work for people who have certain types of stain on their teeth,
ie. tetracycline staining. People with crowns, caps or veneers, should go to the dentist to have their teeth whiten, as
well. And if someone has broken teeth or loose/fractured fillings or cavities should not bleach because this will make
the tooth very sensitive.
Most experts agree that whatever whitening method you use, you can avoid complications as long as you don't abuse the
products. Read the instruction on the product and follow them.
The American Dental Association recommends these tips to keep your teeth and gums in good health:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
- Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. Decay-causing bacteria still lingers
between teeth where toothbrush bristles can't reach. Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between
the teeth and under the gum line
- Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks
- Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams
- Ask your dentist about dental sealants, a protective plastic coating that can be applied to the chewing
surfaces of the back teeth where decay often starts
- Look for the ADA Seal of approval on fluoride toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, interdental cleaners, oral
irrigators, mouth rinses and other oral hygiene products. The ADA Seal on a product is your assurance that it
has met ADA criteria for safety and effectiveness
- Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles become frayed. A worn toothbrush
will not do a good job of cleaning your teeth. Children's toothbrushes often need replacing more frequently than
adults because they can wear out sooner
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