Your Ultimate Guide to Getting Whiter Teeth

However, for someone seeking to whiten their teeth, it can get quite overwhelming with the number of over-the-counter whitening kits and in-office professional treatments available. In order to help you make your choice, we talked to a few dentists to get their opinions and inform you of some at-home strategies that will keep your teeth white.

Ingredients That Whiten Teeth

Before you go to your local drug store and start grabbing products teeth whitening products, it would make sense to first know which ingredients will actually give you a whiter smile. According to the American Dental Association, the whitening products on the market can be divided into two main types. First, there are bleaching products that contain peroxide, they are designed to lift both surface and deep stains. Then we have non-bleaching products that only work to lighten the surface stains only.

Bleaching products commonly contain either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide (also known as urea peroxide), the latter being the most common. Whenever water comes into contact with this white crystal, it releases hydrogen peroxide which whitens your teeth.

Should you whiten your teeth?

Even though most people can obtain noticeable results by using this teeth whitening product, some should proceed with caution. Bleaching is usually successful in around 90 percent of patients but it’s not a good option for everyone.

For those who have teeth stains due to age or food products like tea and coffee and the stains appear yellow, orange or brown, will likely achieve good results with bleaching. However, those with gray stains, which are commonly from smoking, use of antibiotic tetracycline or fluorosis, which is caused by excess consumption of fluoride, won’t achieve very noticeable results from bleaching.

It’s always a good idea to talk to your dentist prior to using any whitening product, including those that you can buy over-the-counter. That’s because people with worn enamel or gum disease commonly have sensitive teeth, and bleaching will only make it worse. Those with loose or broken fillings also fall into the risk group. The bleach will be able to reach deep into the tooth and negatively affect the nerve.

How often should you whiten your teeth?

There is no single right answer regarding how often one can whiten their teeth. It will mostly depend on the type of whitening method you choose to go with. When going with at-home products, you can use them daily until the desired result is achieved. After that, you should only use them once or twice a month to help maintain the results.

However, it’s important to consider the active ingredient and its strength when trying to decide on frequency. Professional treatments commonly contain a higher amount of whitening agents. This means they will work faster but frequent use may lead to tooth and gum tissue sensitivity.

Another factor that can make a difference is when you choose to whiten your teeth. According to cosmetic dentists, the best time to whiten your teeth is right after you get your teeth cleaned by a dentist. Most of the surface stains would have been removed by your dentist, so the bleach will be able to directly work on the tooth and not on the surface stains.

Over-The-Counter Whitening Kits: What to Know

There are very obvious reasons why over-the-counter whitening kits are so popular. They are easy to obtain, fairly simple to use, and can provide you noticeable results without spending a bunch of money on an in-office treatment.

Usually, these kits have peroxide strips that need to be worn daily for around a month. They can generally brighten your smile by about one shade and give results that will last 6 to 12 months. Their cost ranges anywhere between $20 and $50.

Tray-Based Teeth Whiteners: What to Know

For those who are wanting something more powerful than over-the-counter kits but don’t want to spend money on a full in-office procedure should consider tray-based whiteners. You will need to book an appointment with your dentist, who will provide you with custom trays and a whitening solution that can be used at home.

These trays are customized to your mouth which means they can be worn comfortably while sleeping. They are so thin that it’s even possible to work and talk while wearing them. Keep in mind that you have to wear these trays for longer periods of time when compared to strips, around four hours a day for a few weeks.

The whitening solution is made of bleaching agents that can whiten your teeth by a couple of shades. The cost of these trays is around $250.

Professional In-Office Whitening Treatments: What to Know

The most effective, however pricey solution for most patients is to whiten their teeth at your dentist's office. This service commonly involves applying a hydrogen peroxide solution on your teeth and using a light or laser to catalyze the whitening process.

This method achieves results faster than at-home bleaching systems due to a higher concentration of peroxide. The drawback to professional teeth whitening is its cost that can range from $500 to $1,000.

Can the foods you eat make a difference?

Most people are aware of the fact that black coffee and red wine can reverse any of your teeth whitening results. But there are other foods that can also greatly affect your pearly whites. They include blackberries, chocolate, dried fruits, white wine, diet soda, and super-starchy foods like potato chips and potatoes.

Drinking some water, chewing gum or brushing your teeth after eating can lower the stain potential of these foods.