Teeth Whitening Ins and Outs
A Helpful Guide to Using Pros or
Doing it Yourself...

Teeth whitening is the only area in cosmetic dentistry that I can think of where you have two options.

If you want veneers, implants, or dentures you can only do so by working with a competent dentist.

But if you want to whiten your teeth, you can hire a dentist and, in many cases, you can do it on your own.

In the U.S., teeth bleaching is market or consumer driven, which leads to innovation, creates many options, and produces many price levels that fit your budget.

Doing it on your own or through a professional gives you satisfactory to excellent results!

Even the drawbacks for both options are similar as well.

For instance, your teeth may not stay permanently snow white after either type of treatment, and teeth whitening discomfort can happen if you do it on your own or with a dentist.

Professional Teeth Whitening:
Dentist Whitening…

Most professional smile whitening today (through a dentist) uses light assisted bleaching also called laser teeth whitening because of the strong bright light used during the appointment.

However, the light is not a laser per se. It doesn't burn or cut.

Also, the active ingredient is not the light itself, but the whitening or bleaching gel. This gel is a form of peroxide. The light is used to help the gel do its whitening job better and faster.

The two most popular methods of laser whitening in the U.S. are Zoom bleaching and BriteSmile teeth whitening.

Zoom and BriteSmile are registered trade marks. They are brand names that belong to the same company - Philips (also the maker of the Sonicare electric toothbrush).

For the moment, these whitening procedures are only available through laser dentists or teeth whitening professionals, not directly to the public.

Whitening Teeth at Home:
What's the right tooth whitening product or method for you?

Dental whitening with a professional is the easy part. Find one you like, negotiate the fee, and pay her to do it.

But when you decide to do it on your own, an almost endless universe of teeth whitening products and options opens up.

For example:

• You can whiten your teeth naturally;
• Buy professional strength whiteners directly from dental Labs;
• Brush with whitening toothpaste;
  
• Use whitening strips;
  
• Apply whitening gels;
  
• Purchase teeth whitening kits with more than one type of whitening product;
  
• Get accessories like custom-made teeth trays, refill bleaching gels, or desensitizing gels to help you avoid discomfort

It's exciting to have so many choices, and to find the one, or combination, that works for you!

Click the links on this page to get more information on each method as well as learn about specific products to help you whiten your teeth.

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