This article is intended for information purposes only and does not constitute or replace advice from a medical professional.
You probably see an advert for some kind of tooth whitening treatment or toothpaste every day. It can be confusing to know whether you’re a good candidate for tooth whitening and whether you can do it at home or should go to your dentist. A brighter smile can be a confidence booster, so you might want to explore your tooth whitening options with your dentist, who will talk to you about at-home products or the possibility of getting a professional treatment.
Your dentist can help you determine how your teeth will respond and the best tooth whitening options for you. However, they’re unlikely to recommend at-home whitening with over-the-counter kits as these products can carry risks. If you have dental work such as veneers, crowns or implants, certain tooth whitening options, both products and procedures, may not be available to you as they do not work on porcelain or bonding materials. But if your natural teeth are stained for whatever reason, there are some options available to you.
What teeth whitening treatments are available?
Tooth whitening is a cosmetic procedure designed to brighten your teeth by several shades. You can get a professional tooth whitening treatment at the dentist, get dentist-approved products to use at home or buy over-the-counter products online, at your local pharmacy or supermarket.
Tooth whitening treatments or products given to you by your dentist will give much better results than products you can buy in shops. This is because they contain a higher concentration of active ingredients like hydrogen peroxide that can remove stains deeper inside your tooth enamel. Store bought products can also achieve results, but most can only remove light surface stains on your teeth caused by foods and drinks.
Overusing tooth whitening products can cause problems like sensitive teeth or burned gums, so you should always follow the teeth whitening guide included in the products you use.
What teeth whitening treatments are available?
- Have your teeth cleaned by a dental professional to remove external staining caused by food, drinks or smoking.
- You can use a whitening toothpaste or mouthwash that can help remove surface stains between dental visits.
- Natural tooth whitening methods like oil pulling can help to remove light surface stains.
- To go a step beyond basic cleaning, you can use a tooth whitening gel or whitening strips, if recommended by your dentist.
- You can choose to bleach your teeth. While mild products are available over-the-counter, your dentist can provide a bleaching gel to work on more stubborn stains or yellowing.
- Dentists can also create a custom mouthguard for at-home bleaching. Whatever tooth whitening option you both decide on, use as instructed to achieve the best results.
- If you have more permanently stained or damaged teeth, your dentist may recommend veneers or bonding to fix irregular or damaged teeth or to achieve specific results.
