Teeth whitening has become a big industry as more and more people want to find ways to make their smiles brighter. There are now so many different options available from state-of-the-art treatments using lasers to at-home teeth whitening kits using bleaching gels. But how do you choose between the many options available? What are the benefits of each method and how effective are they? This guide on teeth whitening will show how each treatment works and the pros and cons of each. With this guide, you can be best informed about how cost-effective each treatment is so you can make the right choice to get whiter teeth.

How to Get White Teeth

There are a number of basic methods in use to whiten teeth today. These include:
  • Using gels, strips, and trays containing a percentage of a special bleach
  • Laser treatment
  • Teeth whitening toothpaste
  • Teeth whitening mouthwash
The best teeth whitening method to choose depends on how much your budget is and how fast you want to see results. Additionally, you must consider how permanent you want the treatment to be and how much discomfort you are willing to go through. Please note that these treatments only work on natural teeth. Things like dentures, fillings, veneers or dental implants will remain the same color.

What Makes Teeth Discolored?

Teeth are generally not naturally bright white. The enamel that coats the teeth is a blueish-white color and is translucent. The dentin — the material beneath the hard enamel — is a yellow color and that shows through the enamel.  The enamel grows thinner as a person ages, so it is natural for teeth to look darker or more yellow as we age. However, there are a number of foods and drinks that are strongly colored and acidic in nature and other factors that can accelerate discoloration. These include:
  • Berries
  • Sauces like curries and tomato sauce
  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Wine
  • Sugary drinks
  • Smoking
  • Braces
While the best way to maintain your smile is to avoid staining them, however, that is always not that simple. You can minimize the staining power of these foods by eating them with foods that prevent tooth staining like cheese, lettuce, celery, carrots, apples, and cauliflower. These foods help clean the teeth through friction and can neutralize the acid that damages the enamel.

In-office Teeth Whitening Treatments

It is prudent to visit your dentist and discuss with them potential teeth whitening options. Their treatments are very effective and they know how to perform them safely and can assist in case of any side effects.  In-office treatments are divided into three general types: Laser teeth whitening, Zoom teeth whitening, and professional bleaching.

Laser teeth whitening

Laser teeth whitening sounds futuristic and dangerous, but it is actually quite simple. Lasers are used to speed up the bleaching effect of a concentrated gel that is applied to the teeth. This makes it the most instant teeth whitening method, but also one of the most expensive. First, a rubber seal is applied around the gums to prevent the bleaching product, likely containing hydrogen peroxide, from bleaching the gums. Then the dentist will shine a laser on your teeth and accelerate the teeth whitening process.  This is an intense teeth whitening process that can give you results after just one visit. It also has the greatest potential for sensitivity after treatment. However, this sensitivity is temporary. Additionally, your dentist can recommend steps to take in case of greater sensitivity.

Zoom teeth whitening

This kind of whitening uses a technology from Philips that uses a powerful LED light to accelerate whitening instead of a laser. This process is less intense, coming with a lower chance for sensitivity but this can mean that you will need to do multiple sessions of about 45 to 60 minutes. Follow this method by an at-home course of teeth whitening treatment to prolong the results.

Professional bleaching

This is the cheapest form of in-office treatment where the dentist will apply professional grade tooth whitening gel via custom trays. This kind of gel is much stronger than the gels available for in-home treatments. This means they can produce much greater results than commercially available kits. The dentist will start by taking an impression of your teeth to create the custom tray. Then, you can go home and use the gels at home. The trays can be left in overnight, which makes it convenient so you don’t have to wear it during the day. Check with your dentist to see what options they have available.

At-home Teeth Whitening Treatments

These at-home kits are best used after a professional treatment to maintain the brightness of your teeth. These treatments include:
  • LED whitening
  • Bleaching trays
  • Teeth whitening strips
  • Whitening toothpaste

LED Whitening

These kits emulate the professional level of LED treatment that is available at an in-office treatment. These come with a tray that sometimes can be molded to fit your teeth, a bleaching gel, and an LED light to activate the bleaching agent.  These may offer good immediate results but they may quickly fade away or require multiple applications.

Bleaching Trays

Over the counter bleaching trays are similar to the LED at-home treatments. They come with an accelerator fluid that is applied directly to the teeth before the gel is used. The treatment can take between five to thirty minutes daily, depending on the strength of the gel.  These treatments will generally require a week to two weeks in order to get better results. Some products require that you combine the beaching trays with products like pens, polishers, and kinds of toothpaste. These combined can create good short-term results. One risk with this kind of treatment is that the whitening kits are not custom fit to your mouth so there is a greater risk of the beaching agent leaking out and burning or blistering other parts of your mouth. Additionally, you may not get the best coverage with these methods.

Teeth Whitening Strips & Toothpastes

These are small plastic strips that are attached to the teeth and are a cleaner and easier way to apply a bleach than gels or trays. Most of the brands generally are required to be placed on the teeth for about 30 minutes and then they are removed, but some even naturally dissolve after the 10-15 minutes of wear.  These can do a good job of brightening your front teeth but they aren’t going to be as effective for the teeth in the back of the mouth. They are a cost-effective method that can be used to produce good results quickly. This is a great solution for quick and painless options if you needed to whiten your teeth in time for a photo shoot. Tooth whitening kinds of toothpaste are good for removing surface stains. These won’t change the natural yellowing that comes with a reduction in enamel. This is also the cheapest option which makes it a very popular option to give your smile a little boost. They can also be used to prolong the results of more powerful treatments.

How Much Does It Cost To Have Your Teeth Whitened?

The cost of teeth whitening depends greatly on the method chosen. You can spend as little as five dollars or less on a tube of teeth whitening toothpaste. Or you can potentially spend much more on in-office laser treatment.  With teeth whitening, what you pay for is what you get. Professional in-office teeth whitening costs are going to be much more than home treatments, but you are gaining the experience and expertise of a trained dentist who can work with you to create a treatment plan that fits with your needs.  Additionally, many dentists offer financing options to help mitigate the cost of treatment. You should also check to see what coverage your dental insurance might provide. If you think you would like to see what tooth whitening treatment is good for you, and you live in the Rancho Cucamonga, CA area, give Golden Smiles Dental a call for your consultation at  (909) 481-8990. Our expert team will be more than happy to answer your questions.