Teeth Whitening Made Easy: Comparing Your Whitening Options

It is natural for your smile to dim as you age. Coffee, tea, wine, tobacco and certain medications, as well as the aging process, can make your smile more yellow, brown or gray than you are happy with. Fortunately, there are many whitening products available to restore your smile.

How Whitening Works

The enamel, or outer layer of your teeth, is porous, making it susceptible to staining. Particles work their way into the pores and accumulate, discoloring your teeth. You can brighten your smile in two ways, by removing the surface stains with an abrasive product, or by bleaching with a whitening product.

Over the Counter Products

Over the counter toothpastes, gels and rinses can all whiten your smile. Whitening toothpastes work by using a mild abrasive action to scrub off stains on the surface of the teeth. This process can lighten your teeth by about one shade. Over the counter gels provide more impact, as they contain bleaching agents, such as hydrogen peroxide. You apply the gel with a brush, strips, or mouth guard, and leave in for the recommended amount of time. You will typically see results within a few days, although it may take several months for optimal results. Over the counter rinses contain hydrogen peroxide, a bleaching agent, but given the fact that they only remain on your teeth for a minute or less, the results are not typically as noticeable as when using gels.

In-Office Whitening

Results from in-office whitening from places like Westmount Dental Centre are quicker and more noticeable than when using over the counter products. Products such as Spa Dent use a whitening solution activated by LED light to lighten teeth from two to eight shades without increasing tooth sensitivity. In-office whitening also provides the benefit of a professional to perform the whitening, which reduces the risk of irritation to your gums and over-whitening.

Maintaining Your Smile

After the whitening process, it is important to steer clear of any stain causing activity for at least 48 hours. The whitening process opens the pores in tooth's enamel more than usual, making your teeth particularly susceptible to staining. It is important to remember that whitening is not a permanent activity, if you continue to use the products responsible for stains in the past, your new smile will not last as long as if you abstain. Whitening the teeth is generally considered safe and an effective way to improve your smile, however, some people experience sensitivity from exposure to the bleaching agents. Switching to a sensitive tooth formulation of toothpaste typically eliminates the problem, but if you continue to experience sensitivity, talk to your dentist about whitening methods that do not cause tooth sensitivity.