|  | Dental Health | Teeth Whitening

Methods of Teeth Whitening

There are various ways to whiten the teeth. Some are as easy as using regular toothpaste and others are a little complicated and time-consuming. The best method--seeing a dentist--is also the most expensive. Whitening teeth is big business and a more accurate term for it would be stain removal. The bleaches used to whiten teeth simply remove the stains caused by food, drugs, cigarettes and beverages. While each method has varying degrees of success depending on the product used and how well the instructions are followed, there are affordable ways to whiten stained teeth.

  1. Home Remedies

    • Home remedies use ingredients you probably already have around your home. Baking soda is often recommended as a teeth whitener. The abrasive action of the baking soda deep cleans the teeth. The tiny particles remove the stains on the surface of the enamel. Make a paste using baking soda and water. Dip your toothbrush into the paste and brush as usual. Instead of water use hydrogen peroxide which is a bleaching agent. Hydrogen peroxide can also be used alone to whiten the teeth. Again, just use your toothbrush and brush your teeth with the liquid.

    Teeth Whitening Toothpastes

    • Many types of toothpaste on the market whiten teeth. These teeth whitening toothpastes contain varying amounts of hydrogen peroxide. In testing at Consumer Reports, Ultra Brite toothpaste received the highest rating of all the whitening toothpastes tested. Tooth whitening toothpastes give only mild whitening effect, but they are inexpensive and easy to use.

    White Strips

    • White strips are pieces of paper coated with a bleaching agent. The strips are applied to the front of the teeth via the adhesive backing. The strips stay on the teeth for 30 minutes. For 2 weeks the strips are applied twice a day. The strips are very thin and almost transparent so they appear invisible. White strips can give good results.

    Paint-On Bleaching Gels

    • Paint-on gels are another option for whitening teeth. With this method a small brush is provided to paint the gel onto the teeth. The brush-on gel remains on the teeth for 1 hour twice a day. Unfortunately, according to the Make My Teeth Whiter website, this method is not very effective in whitening teeth. Also the gel tastes terrible.

    Mouth Tray Kits

    • Using mouth trays filled with a bleaching substance is one of the most affordable ways to truly whiten the teeth. These kits let you make a mold of your teeth. After placing the bleaching agent in the tray, you put the mouth tray on. The tray covers the top and bottom teeth. The mouth tray is kept on the teeth for a few hours or overnight. Each kit has a different length of time. Some people find the mouth tray uncomfortable. This occurs if the person doesn't get a good impression of his teeth. There are some kits that allow you to mail off your impression to get a tray with a more precise fit. This costs a little more to do but it is worth the extra time and expense if you have a sensitive mouth.

    Cosmetic Dentistry

    • Using a dentist is the fastest way to get the whitest teeth. One visit to a dentist's office can give you dramatic results in 1 hour. Doctors use a strong concentration of a peroxide-based bleaching agent. The dentist can also use heat (in the form of lasers) to accelerate the bleaching. Having a dentist bleach your teeth is the most expensive teeth whitening method there is.

Teeth Whitening - Related Articles