Tooth whitening has become a safe, efficient way for many people to brighten their smiles. Many alternatives exist, from over the counter products to professional treatment options. When choosing among these alternatives, consider effectiveness, method, cost, and any possible risks. Consult an oral health care professional for individual recommendations.

We have found that the base color of your tooth is what determines your outcome.  In general, teeth bleaching works best on teeth that have a yellow base color and worst on grays and brown combinations.  The gray (tetracycline e.g.) either will lighten very slowly or not at all.  If you have whitened your teeth with Crest bleaching strips (e.g.) your color change may not be as dramatic.

Whitening toothpastes.

We have found very little change with this type of product.  Whitening is determined by concentration of the tooth bleaching product and time on contact.  The whitening toothpastes are neither concentrated nor stay on your tooth very long.  We have noticed is ...more tooth sensitivity with their use.

Whitening strips.

Tooth bleaching with strips are effective.  Over the counter strips have lower concentrations of bleaching product and are not very long.  Teeth whitening strips appear to bleach the front six (6) well but nothing further back (to short).

Best described as a combination of whitening strips and take home trays.  Tres white appears to be effective in whitening teeth.  A very good way to bleach teeth and still considered the gold standard of teeth whitening.  Conditioning the enamel seems to be important in whitening your teeth. Bleaching teeth is a time factor... the more time the bleaching solution is on the tooth... the stronger the concentration...  the better the result is.

One-hour-tooth whitening.

A popular method of tooth whitening, Time involved in teeth whitening is between 1 and 1.5 hours.  Much more concentrated solution for a shorter period of time. More sensitivity of the teeth likely and the peroxide solution does leak under the rubber dam or light cured dental dam and creates small "white" sores that go away.  Results are good but not always great. And follow up with Tres white or take home trays likely.

Non-Vital Whitening

Vital whitening may not improve the appearance of a tooth that has had root-canal treatment because the stain is coming from the inside of the tooth. If this is the case, your dentist will use a different procedure that whitens the tooth from the inside. He or she will place a whitening agent inside the tooth and put a temporary filling over it. The tooth will be left this way for several days. You may need this done only once, or it can be repeated until the tooth reaches the desired shade.

Vital Whitening

The most common type of vital tooth whitening uses a gel-like whitening solution that is applied directly to the tooth surface. This product contains some form of hydrogen peroxide.Tooth whitening can be done in the dentist's office or at home. In-office (chairside) whitening allows your dentist to use a more powerful whitening gel. A specialized light or laser activates the gel and allows bleaching to happen faster.

Tooth whitening strips and paint-on products, use a low concentration of a peroxide-based whitener. Still relatively inexpensive, this category of products can reduce age or diet-related staining and provide up to two shades of whitening. So, if limited results are sufficient for you, this is an economical alternative. There are many different types of procedures used to bleach or whiten your teeth.  Tooth whitening has been around for many years and it is safe and effective for most dental patients.