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Tooth staining can be caused by the accumulation of chromogens on teeth (extrinsic) or within the tooth itself (intrinsic). Bleaching treatments lighten these compounds to make the teeth look whiter.

Some whitening regimens are more effective than others. Over-the-counter cleansers and whitening kits that use peroxide can be effective, although Dr. Messina recommends staying away from products that contain hydrated silica.

Teeth Whitening Options

A bright smile can make a good first impression and convey health and wellness. But teeth can become discolored from many sources, including food and beverages, smoking, certain medications and tooth decay. Luckily, there are several teeth whitening treatments to help you look younger and whiter. These treatments can be performed at a dental office or with an over-the-counter home bleaching kit.

Teeth whitening treatments vary in cost and intensity, but all use bleaching agents to lift stains from your smile’s enamel. Some of these whitening products use peroxide, which may cause tooth sensitivity for some patients. However, there are also options available for sensitive teeth, which use lower concentrations of the whitening agent and provide protective measures to prevent pain or irritation during or after treatment.

Professional whitening treatments are typically administered in one-hour increments at your dentist’s office, or as a take-home treatment with custom trays and bleaching gel. Your dentist or hygienist will first take an impression of your mouth to fabricate a custom tray, which can whiten your teeth more thoroughly than over-the-counter whitening trays that are one-size-fits-all. Your hygienist or dentist will also recommend the appropriate bleaching agent and time length for your unique situation.

Over-the-counter teeth whitening treatments include toothpaste, strips and trays, as well as one-size-fits-all syringes with a whitening gel. The whitening agents in these over-the-counter whitening products generally contain hydrogen peroxide, but at lower concentrations than that used by dentists. While these treatments can lighten your teeth, they may not last as long as a professionally administered in-office treatment, and you will likely need touch-ups to maintain your results.

A less costly but equally effective cosmetic option is composite bonding, which uses flexible resin to reshape and whiten teeth. This procedure can also close gaps between teeth and address chips and cracks. A more permanent alternative is porcelain veneers, which use a natural-looking material to completely remake a patient’s smile. To learn more about which option is best for you, schedule a consultation with a Narre Warren dental care provider. They can help you decide which form of whitening will give you the most beautiful and radiant smile possible!

Teeth Whitening Procedures

The whitening procedure uses peroxide-based bleaching agents to lighten the natural color of tooth enamel. This process can be done at home or in the dental office and is usually a quick treatment with very little discomfort. A whiter smile is not only more attractive, but may also increase self-esteem and confidence. Teeth whitening is not permanent and will need to be repeated at regular intervals to maintain the desired brightness. However, the newer whitening procedures have significantly reduced side effects such as sensitivity and gingival irritation.

Tooth whitening is not recommended for children under 8 years of age due to their developing teeth, people with tooth decay or gum disease or tetracycline staining (a discoloration caused by taking this antibiotic as a child). These stains are difficult to remove, and it would be best to replace these teeth with veneers or crowns. The whitening treatments can also be less effective on intrinsic stains that are in the interior of a tooth, such as those caused by fluorosis or by trauma.

Before the whitening procedure, the dental team will examine the patient: take a history, observe hard and soft tissues, check the placement and condition of restorations, and if necessary take x-rays to assess the condition of the internal structure. The treatment involves isolation of the soft tissue with a resin-based sealant, application of a whitening gel containing varying concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (25-38%), and exposure to a light source for 30-60 minutes.

The whitening effect can last from a few months to 3 years, depending on the individual. The results are not as dramatic for smokers or those who consume a lot of dark-colored foods and drinks, such as red wine, coffee, and soda. The whitening effect will not work on dentures, crowns or fillings.

If you are thinking about having your teeth whitened, it is important to go to a dental professional who is registered with the Dental Council of Ireland. Non-dental professionals are not qualified to perform whitening and could damage your teeth and gums. They may also not be able to give you the results you want. You can report unregistered practitioners to the Dental Council by using our Service Finder.

Teeth Whitening Products

Whitening products are one of the most popular dental procedures with a growing public demand for brighter smiles. This popularity has led to several options for at-home whitening, along with more intensive bleaching methods applied under professional supervision.

A number of tooth whitening products are available for use at home, including a wide variety of toothpastes and mouthwashes that may contain abrasives to scrub away mild surface stains and baking soda or charcoal that can help remove stubborn stains. Over-the-counter whitening strips and gels can lighten teeth by up to a few shades, while a professional application of laser or LED whitening devices can achieve a more dramatic result.

Whiteners typically contain peroxide, which breaks down and releases hydroxyl free radicals that help to remove discoloration. The concentration of the whitening agent and the length of time it is left on teeth will affect the resulting shade of whiteness. Depending on the type of product, side effects can include tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.

Tray-based whitening systems, available over-the-counter or through a dentist, involve filling a mouth guard-like tray with carbamide peroxide-bleaching gel and wearing it for a few hours to overnight for up to 4 weeks (depending on the degree of discoloration). These trays are often custom-fitted by a dental professional.

Over-the-counter whitening pens are another type of whitening product that contains the active whitening ingredient peroxide in a small disposable brush. These pens are designed to be used on the go, but their lower concentration of peroxide and shorter duration of use can make them less effective than a gel or strip kit.

A new generation of whitening pens is also available, which feature a blue LED light that is held over the whitening gel to increase penetration and speed results. These products have received mixed reviews, and a few users complain of pain or discomfort during or after use.

A gentler option for at-home whitening is the Moon whitening strips, which are self-dissolving and use natural ingredients like lemon peel oil, coconut oil, sage oil and mineral-rich salt from the Dead Sea. GH’s Beauty Director tested these and found them to be easy to use, but she did experience some sensitivity after a few days of usage.

How Teeth Whitening Works

Teeth are made of a hard, outer enamel layer that protects the inner dentin core. They start life with a natural, pearly white color, but over time teeth can become darker or yellower. This is due to both natural aging and stain accumulation. Fortunately, most of these changes can be corrected by teeth whitening.

Bleaching or whitening treatments work by oxidizing darkly pigmented molecules in the enamel. These are called extrinsic stains and include food, drink and smoking-related stains. Once the molecule is oxidized it loses its ability to attract and hold staining materials, and thus the tooth appears lighter.

Over-the-counter whitening kits use a whitening gel containing the active bleaching ingredient either hydrogen peroxide or its slow-acting relative, carbamide peroxide. The whitening gel is placed inside a mouthguard or specially made tray, which the patient wears over their teeth. The whitening agent is activated by the light or heat source that comes with many of these products, although a dentist may also choose to use a laser or light-accelerated bleaching method for quicker and more dramatic results.

The whitening process takes place over two to four weeks, with 30 minutes or more of whitening gel applied each day. The whitening effect usually lasts for three to six months, but can be extended by following the recommended dietary and oral hygiene practices.

Most whitening products can lighten the color of teeth by up to seven shades, but results vary from person to person. In general, lighter-colored stains respond to whitening treatment more quickly than darker-colored ones.

Keeping your teeth white requires regular brushing (last thing at night is best) with a fluoride toothpaste and daily flossing to remove any food debris. It is also important to avoid foods and drinks that can stain, especially red wine, coffee and soda. It’s also helpful to quit smoking and visit your dental team for regular cleanings.