Dental Whitening Treatments

As people age their teeth gradually become discolored from such things as coffee, tea, sodas, certain antibiotics and cigarette smoking. Even an overabundance of fluoride through the years can cause tooth discoloration, according to the American Dental Hygienists' Association. Dental whitening treatments offer a way to restore a person's smile to a pearly white shade.

Whitening Toothpastes

• Whitening toothpastes offer a gentle home whitening treatment to teeth when regularly used. They contain gentle polishing or chemical agents, such as hydrogen peroxide, that can remove surface stains and even deeper stains that have penetrated the tooth's surface.

  Regular use of whitening toothpastes can whiten teeth approximately one shade, according to MedicineNet. Whitening toothpastes also offer more abrasive compounds then regular toothpastes. The additional abrasive additives can help to whiten teeth over time and also give a cleaner feeling to the mouth.

Home Whitening Tray Kits

• At home bleaching kits can be custom designed by the dentist so each tray fits the individual's mouth and bite or they can be purchased over the counter in a simple kit that fits all mouths. Users fill a tray with a whitening gel. Once the tray is filled with the gel it is inserted into the mouth for a required amount of time. Some tray kits require overnight usage but others only call for a few hours in the user's mouth.

  The user continues to use the trays daily for a suggested amount of time or until the desired whitening results are achieved.

Home Whitening Strips

• Teeth whitening strips are a fine film, similar to tape, filled with a hydrogen peroxide solution. The user places the strips directly onto the teeth's surface. The strips are normally applied twice per day for only 30 minutes at a time over a two-week time span.

  The strips whiten quickly and users usually notice results within four days of application. Most teeth remain white for up to four months before the user must repeat the whitening process.

  Relatively inexpensive, the strips are available over the counter at most stores.

Whitening Rinses

• Whitening rinses allow the user to treat their teeth to a whiter appearance with only minimal effort. The rinse whitens teeth but it also freshen breath, reduce plaque buildup and even helps to fight gum disease. Most of the rinses contain hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient.

  The user simply swirls the substance around the mouth for 60 seconds and then spits it out. The recommended usage is twice per day. Users will notice moderate whitening in 12 weeks of ongoing usage, according to Web MD. The user must follow the use of the rinse with regular brushing.

Dental Whitening

• Dental offices offer in-office bleaching procedures that are highly successful at quickly whitening teeth. The dentist applies the whitening gel directly to the teeth. Most of the gels are activated using a special light, a laser or heat. Users generally experience whiter teeth in only 30 to 60 minutes. Severely stained or discolored teeth may require two or three visits to achieve adequate results.

  Teeth whitening procedures in a dentist's office are usually not covered by insurance plans and they tend to be quite expensive but they yield the best results of all whitening treatments.