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Whiter Teeth at Home or at the Dentist: Types of Tooth Whitening

Most people you ask will tell you that one of the top things that they don’t like about their smile is the color of their teeth. Fortunately, there are many options to get whiter teeth with varying results that can fit every budget. Here are a few of the most common types of teeth whitening that’s used at home or at the dentist’s office:

1. Dental Tooth Whitening

Teeth whitening procedures completed in a dentist’s office are the most effective with long-lasting results. Patients can leave their dentist’s office after an hour or two and have noticeably whiter teeth multiple shades lighter than when they walked in. Almost all in-office whitening procedures use a whitening peroxide gel which is applied directly to teeth. To speed up the whitening process a lazer, or special high-intensity light (used in Zoom tooth whitening procedures like at ToothSavers) is applied to the teeth for an hour or two.

Most people can walk out of the office without requiring additional whitening procedures, although those with significant stains or discoloration might require further treatment. Costs for teeth whitening at the dentist’s office do vary, but the affects last.

2.Professional Tray Whitening

These kits can often be obtained from the dentist, or even over the counter at pharmacies and stores. A peroxide gel comes with the kits that can be placed into a tray that is placed over the teeth to whiten.

3.Tooth Whitening Strips

These are temporary, disposable strips that can be applied to the teeth that contain a similar peroxide gel. While changes can be noticed from these products, they need to be used consistently over the long-term to have the best effects.

4. Whitening Toothpastes

Pastes can slightly whiten the surface of the teeth, but do not bleach and are better for maintaining white teeth after a bleaching process or preventing new stains from forming on teeth.