Gels and whitening products are popular ways to whiten your teeth. According to the Consumer Guide for Dentistry, 15 percent of people in the United States have tried a tooth-whitening product or procedure.
About Tooth Discoloration
According to the Consumer Guide for Dentistry, two types of tooth stains exist: extrinsic and intrinsic stains. Extrinsic stains are stains that are on the outside of teeth and can be caused by beverages, food, tobacco and general use. Intrinsic stains form on the inside of teeth and are caused by trauma, exposure to minerals or excessive consumption of fluoride. Thinner teeth and older teeth are more susceptible to losing their white color. In addition, injuries and grinding your teeth can contribute to decay and discolored teeth. The Consumer Guide for Dentistry also notes that everyone has an inborn tooth color, ranging from yellow-brown to green-gray, and those with green-gray teeth are harder to keep clean and harder to bleach clean.
About Teeth-Whitening Products
Products designed to whiten teeth contain either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. According to the Consumer Guide for Dentistry, hydrogen peroxide is more powerful and works faster. In addition, carbamide peroxide has about one-third of the strength of hydrogen peroxide. The lower the peroxide percentage, the longer it can remain on teeth.
Dentist Office Whitening Procedures
In-office whitening procedures at a dentist's office uses a peroxide gel for up to an hour to whiten the teeth. The Consumer Guide for Dentistry notes that this procedure can significantly whiten teeth in a short period of time, but the average procedure cost is $650, as of November 2010. In this procedure, the mouth is held open and the gums and area is protected while the gels are applied to the teeth.
Dentist Take Home Whitening Kits
According to a 2005 article in the Wall Street Journal, dentists say the best results are likely to come from a custom-fit tray and that these at-home trays are a better value than in-office bleaching procedures. With take-home kits, the trays are custom made and gel is applied into mouthpiece like devices that fit on your upper and lower teeth. The Consumer Guide for Dentistry notes that gels can remain on the teeth from one hour to all night and that the cost ranges from $100 to $400, as of November 2010.
Over-the-counter Whiteners
Over-the-counter whitening products are the cheapest whiteners on the market and they can be bought at most drug and grocery stores. According to CBS News, these products include paint-on whitening gels and pens, strips, toothpastes and brushes. CBS News says that toothpastes will remove some stains but they will not significantly whiten teeth. The brush and gel systems paint onto your teeth and enable you to reach small spaces, but CBS News notes that they can be washed off quickly by your lips. Whitening strips are effective, safe and easy to use. Most products peel off and cover your upper and lower front teeth and stick to the teeth, while bleach inside on the strips whitens teeth.
