by Suzanne Feinberg

Created on: May 22, 2008

Perhaps nothing exudes the essence of health and beauty than a pearly white smile. In this quest for perfection, many options exist, ranging from over-the-counter drug store products to more powerful solutions available from your dentist.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), whiteners may not work on all discolored teeth, so it is advised that you consult your dentist before beginning a whitening program. Yellowish teeth likely will bleach well, while brownish and grayish teeth may not.

The most effective whitening solutions contain some form of peroxide, but the concentration of this ingredient varies from product to product.

For serious whitening, ask your dentist what he or she recommends. From in-office bleaching procedures that use a laser or light to enhance the whitening, to bonding and porcelain veneers, dentists can offer a variety of options for discolored teeth, but they do tend to be more expensive.

At-home bleaching kits, the most popular whitening option according to the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA), usually involve placing a peroxide-based gel into a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is worn for a few hours each day, or perhaps overnight, for about two weeks. The kits available through a dentist will have a higher percentage of peroxide, and thus will provide more effective results.

Teeth whitening strips available at the drug store are relatively inexpensive and use peroxide as the whitening agent. The strips typically are applied twice a day for 30 minutes for a 14-day session. Results can be seen within a few days and last up to four months.

Toothpastes that claim to whiten teeth contain a mild abrasive to remove surface stains. They will not bleach your teeth the way products containing peroxide will. WebMD estimates that whitening toothpastes can the color of your teeth by about one shade, whereas in-office procedures performed by your dentist can lighten teeth from three to eight shades.

There are many other whitening products on the market today, such as gum, dental floss and mouthwashes. Further studies need to be done to prove the effectiveness of these products.

The chances of side effects from whitening products are relatively low, the most common being gum sensitivity and mild irritation of soft tissue in the mouth. Otherwise, these products do not pose any major health risks.

Although the results may be pleasing, realize nothing lasts forever. Coffee, tea and dark fruit juices may affect the results, and the whitening program may need to be repeated after the initial results fade.

Learn more about this author, Suzanne Feinberg.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.