Teeth Whitening At A Glance

By Emilia Canale

There is so much talk these days about teeth whitening. What are the options? Which is right for you? The best way to decide this, is to consider the costs and benefits of the different methods available. Aside from pricing, the main factors are age and severity of the tooth discoloration.

Teeth discoloration is caused by two things. First of all, cracks appear in the enamel and are exposed to food and other debris. This accumulates and causes yellowing or browning. Secondly, while the enamel is white, the natural color underneath the enamel is a yellowish-brown. As enamel chips away or breaks down, this natural color can be seen. Younger teeth have less natural yellow showing and they also have fewer cracks in the enamel, thus less build up. Therefore, a younger person will usually have more response to teeth whitening processes.

The most convenient option is an over-the-counter product. There are many to pick from and can be found at most grocery, drug and discount department stores. These are bleaching gels generally painted on with an applicator brush or applied with strips or trays. In many cases, these will only whiten the front teeth, which may be sufficient for your needs. More than one application may be required.

Then there are whitening kits which are given my dental professionals. These use a lower concentration or peroxide which can be left on the teeth longer, often overnight. They are applied with custom made bleaching trays that fit in your mouth like a mouth guard.

The third option is a visit to the dentist's office. Dentists or trained dental technicians will apply a higher concentration of peroxide and leave it on for 15-20 minute intervals. Total time does not exceed an hour. Depending on the factors like a person's age and the stubbornness of the stains, further visits or home supplemental treatment may be required.

So, how much do they cost? Store kits will cost about $20-$50 per treatment. It may be a good place to start, just to see how your teeth respond. Dentist-given kits range from $100 to $300. Again, if you have been noticing discoloration for several years, you may want a custom program. Unlike store kits, which often only color the front teeth, the dental kits will whiten all of your teeth because the mouth tray is designed to cover them all. As for dental visits, they average about $600 each. The good thing here is that the results are longer lasting and are great for problem yellowing. Older people may chose this option since they will likely have more of that natural yellow showing and will need a stronger solution. The best thing is to think about all the factors involved and talk to your dentist about what best suits your needs and your budget. - 29879

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