Over-the-counter teeth whitening products don't work for everyone, says Matthew Messina, D.D.S., consumer adviser for the American Dental Association, in a "Good Housekeeping" article. For some consumers, whitening products might be sufficient, says the ADA, but certain types of stains on your teeth are resistant to whitening toothpastes and at-home bleaching products. If you are planning to use a home bleaching kit, it's always best to get your dentist's OK.
Whitening Toothpastes
Whitening toothpastes can get rid of surface staining, giving modest improvements in the brightness of your smile, says Mayo Clinic expert Alan Carr, D.M.D. Whitening pastes contain abrasives that lightly polish the teeth or certain chemicals such as sodium tripolyphosphate that might help break down stains. Carr indicates that as long as you choose a whitening toothpaste that has the ADA's Seal of Acceptance on the product label, it is typically safe to use every day, but these products might be too harsh for those with sensitivity in the gums or teeth or who are prone to tooth or gum erosion.
Whitening Kits
Over-the-counter teeth bleaching products--trays and strips--contain peroxide, a type of bleaching ingredient that causes bubbles to form on the surface of the teeth, which in turn removes stains. Most drugstore bleaching kits are extremely mild, containing less than 10 percent carbamide peroxide, says the ADA. Additionally, the gel trays in these products are available in one standard size, so they might not fit the consumer's mouth with precision. Only tray-applied whitening gels with a 10 percent concentration of carbamide peroxide are approved by the ADA for home use, and are dispensed by dentists. Dentist-dispensed whitening products have trays that are custom-made to fit the patient's mouth.
Who Doesn't Benefit
"Good Housekeeping" states that some people are ill-advised to use over-the-counter teeth whitening products, including people whose teeth are cold-sensitive, have crowns or fillings on the front teeth (these are resistant to whitening treatments), or whose tooth enamel is tinged gray rather than yellow. Intrinsic staining caused by antibiotic use during childhood is not resolved with drugstore whitening products.
Appropriate Use
Good candidates for at-home tooth whitening are whose who've been to the dentist in the past year and have healthy teeth, Messina tells "Good Housekeeping." It's also important to talk with your dentist to make sure he approves your home-treatment plan. One method of determining if you're a good candidate for using home whitening products is to hold a piece of white paper next to your mouth while looking in the mirror. If your teeth appear yellow compared to the paper, the discoloring is most likely caused by extrinsic staining and you might get fair results. But if your teeth have a grayish cast, you most likely have intrinsic staining (deep within the tooth itself) and whitening products won't work.
Other
The ADA indicates that troublesome intrinsic staining, which is unaffected by drugstore or dentist-administered bleaching treatments, might be addressed by placing porcelain veneers or bonding materials on the teeth. If you have intrinsic staining, the ADA advises consulting a dentist, who can describe the whitening procedures that are most appropriate for your teeth.
