Teeth Whitening Options: In-Office, Take-Home and Over-the-Counter
Wanting whiter teeth is simple enough; sorting out how to get there is less so. One option sits in a dentist's chair, another sits on a drugstore shelf, and the packaging rarely makes the difference clear. This article covers what whitening does and what the choices are. Why teeth change color is covered in a separate article.
How whitening works
Whitening products contain one of two tooth bleaches, hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, and these bleaches break stains into smaller pieces, which makes the color less concentrated and your teeth brighter (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
The options
- Stain-removal toothpastes. These are among the whitening options (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
- In-office bleaching. Also called chairside bleaching, it usually requires only one office visit; the dentist will apply either a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect your gums (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
- At-home bleaching from your dentist. Your dentist can provide you with a custom-made tray for at-home whitening (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
- Over-the-counter bleaching products. The concentration of the bleaching agent in these products is lower than what your dentist would use in the office (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
What whitening may not change
Whiteners may not correct all types of discoloration, which is why it is important to talk to your dentist before deciding to whiten your teeth. Yellow teeth will probably bleach well, brown teeth may not respond as well, and teeth with gray tones may not bleach at all (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
Whitening will not work on caps, veneers, crowns or fillings (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
Before you decide
Whether whitening is safe is its own question, and it is covered in a separate article on whether teeth whitening is safe. Our teeth whitening page is also on this site.
Our office is at 147 Main St, 2nd Floor, Lodi, NJ 07644, and Dr. Steven Liao is our dentist. If you are not already a patient, the next step is our first-visit page.
Sources
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). "Teeth Whitening." https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/teeth-whitening
