Teeth Whitening

Everybody loves a bright white smile, and there are a variety of products and procedures available to help you improve the look of yours.

Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, flossing once a day, and regular cleanings at the assistant's office. However, if you decide you would like to go beyond regular care to make your smile look brighter, you should investigate all of your options.

Finding the Best Treatment for You

Schedule a visit with your assistant to learn whether whitening procedures would be effective for you. Whiteners do not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellowish teeth will probably bleach well, brownish teeth may bleach less well, and grayish teeth may not bleach well at all. Likewise, whitening may not enhance your smile if you have had tooth-colored fillings or crowns. The whitener will not affect the color of these materials and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile. In these cases, you do have other options, such as porcelain veneers.

Tooth Whitening Treatments

Professional teeth whitening with your dental health professional
At-home whitening system
Whitening toothpaste

When selecting a whitener or any dental product, be sure to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance — your assurance that a product has met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.

Professional Teeth Whitening

Professional teeth whitening by your dental health professional is your best choice when you need immediate whitening results. This procedure is called chair-side bleaching and may require more than one office visit. Each visit takes about 90-minutes chairside.

During chair-side bleaching, the assistant will apply either a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect the oral soft tissues. A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth and a special light may be used to enhance the action of the agent.

At-Home Whitening System

There are several types of products available for use at home which can either be dispensed by your dental health professional or purchased over the counter. They are generally teeth whitening trays (mouthguards), strips, or paint-on products.

Teeth Whitening Trays

These products contain peroxide(s) which actually bleach the tooth enamel. Carbamide peroxide is the bleaching agent and comes in several different concentrations (10%, 16%, and 22%). Peroxide-containing whiteners typically come in a gel and are placed in a mouthguard. Usage regimens vary. Some products are used twice a day for 2 weeks, while others are intended for overnight use for 1-2 weeks. If you obtain the bleaching solution from your dental health professional's office, they can make a custom-fitted mouthguard for you that will fit your teeth precisely. Currently, only assistant-dispensed, home-use, 10% carbamide peroxide tray-applied gels carry the ADA Seal.

Teeth whitening can have minor side-effects and you should speak with your dental health professional if these become bothersome. For example, teeth can become sensitive during the period when you are using the bleaching solution. In most cases, this sensitivity is temporary and should lessen once the treatment is finished. Some people also experience soft tissue irritation, either from a tray that doesn't fit properly or from solution that may come in contact with the tissues. If you have concerns about such side effects, you should discuss them with the dental health professional.

Whitening Toothpaste

All toothpastes help remove surface stain from your teeth through the action of mild abrasives. "Whitening" toothpastes in the ADA Seal of Acceptance program have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness. Unlike bleaches, these ADA Accepted products do not alter the intrinsic color of teeth.