Teeth Whitening Methods

For the average person, natural tooth colour ranges from light grey to light yellow shades. Over time and with exposure to certain foods, beverages, and habits such as coffee, alcohol, and tobacco, the colour of your teeth may darken. It is perfectly normal for surface stains to build up on your teeth to diminish your bright smile. In addition, the colour of your teeth is something a matter of perception. Those with darker skin tones and makeup will appear to have brighter teeth, regardless of the actual colour of these teeth. And while teeth are not naturally pure white, many dental patients complain of a dull, lackluster smile.

Fortunately, teeth whitening is a common and safe procedure that can restore the quality of your smile. There are two main methods of tooth whitening: surface whiteners and bleaches.

Surface Whiteners

Surface whiteners contain abrasives that remove surface stains and leave your teeth whiter than before. Most surface whiteners fall into the category of toothpaste, gels, or chewing gums. The abrasives in these surface whiteners are usually finer versions of the abrasives found in regular toothpaste so excessive wear on your teeth is not usually a concern when you use these products. Nevertheless, the degree of whitening is somewhat limited, and if you have found little benefit from these products, you should consider seeking a dentist's advice.

Bleaches

Teeth whitening bleaching products tend to be peroxide based and therefore do more than surface whiteners. While surface whiteners simply remove surface stains, bleaches physically alter the colour of your tooth. Unfortunately, not all discolorations on your teeth will respond to bleaching treatments so it is always best to consult your dentist before starting treatment. It is also useful to discuss whitening with your dentist as most products will do nothing to alter the colour of fillings, crowns, or other dental fixtures.

Vital bleaching is a process that is used to whiten live teeth, whereas non-vital bleaching can be done on teeth that remain after a root canal or other dental procedure. Vital bleaching can remove food or tobacco stains, and non-vital bleaching will whiten your tooth from the inside out.

Depending on the number of teeth you want whitened, your dentist will generally recommend one of three procedures:

1. using heat or heat and light to activate bleach that has been placed on your teeth,
2. wearing a custom-fitted mouth guard that holds bleach, or
3. brushing with a bleach toothpaste.

Bleaching should always be performed by a dentist or under a dentist's care to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the treatment. Generally speaking, all commercially available whiteners fall into the category of surface whiteners, while bleaching is a process most often performed by a dental professional. Remember, not every patient will enjoy the same whitening results, and you should always speak to your dentist before you start a whitening treatment.