Home tooth whitening is a popular and convenient way to brighten your smile. Hydrogen or carbamide peroxide, applied as a gel, bleaches your teeth anywhere from one to seven shades lighter, according to the University of Connecticut Health Center. While home tooth bleaching is considered safe by the American Dental Association, practical tips help you get the most value from your home tooth whitening experience.
Dental Evaluation
Before you decide to whiten your teeth at home, see your dentist for an evaluation to make sure the home-bleaching process will be successful. Whiteners are not effective for some tooth discolorations, explains the ADA. For example, grayish or brownish teeth do not bleach as well as yellowish teeth. Additionally, dental work such as bonds, crowns and tooth-colored fillings do not whiten, and if these are on your front teeth, their color may not match your newly whitened teeth. If any of these conditions affect you, your dentist may offer an alternative to home tooth whitening, such as veneers.
Tooth Whitening Strips
Tooth whitening strips consist of flexible plastic, coated with peroxide gel, that you apply to your teeth. The higher the percentage of peroxide in the gel, the greater the whitening effect. However, higher peroxide concentrations may cause temporary tooth sensitivity. Choose strips with a lower peroxide concentration if you experience sensitive teeth during the bleaching process. Avoid overlapping the strips onto any part of your gum area to prevent gum irritation from the peroxide. Additionally, tooth whitening strips will bleach your teeth only a shade or two lighter, states the University of Connecticut Health Center, so if you want a greater degree of tooth whitening, opt for a tooth whitening tray system.
Tooth Whitening Trays
Tooth whitening trays are peroxide gel-filled molds that fit around your teeth. Trays purchased from a drugstore may not fit your particular mouth well, however, allowing the peroxide to contact and irritate your gum tissue. To avoid this problem, your dentist can fit you with a custom mouth tray that fits your teeth exactly. In fact, the only ADA-approved home tooth whitening system is a dentist-fitted mouth tray with 10 percent carbamide peroxide gel. Although custom mouth trays are more expensive than over-the-counter trays or strips, they whiten your teeth four to seven shades lighter, according to the University of Connecticut Health Center.
Compliance and Maintenance
The primary reason for unsuccessful tooth whitening is incorrect use of the bleaching product, explains Dr. Gerard Kugel of Tufts University. Whatever method you select for home tooth whitening, apply the product exactly as directed for best results. Also, you will likely need to re-whiten your teeth periodically, especially if you drink tea or coffee or if you smoke.
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