One of the most popular cosmetic dentistry activities or procedure is teeth whitening. Contrary to other myths and misinformation, teeth whitening works. It is also very flexible in that there are various ways to go about whitening your teeth than it can suit any budget and lifestyle. However, teeth whitening is not permanent, it is a constant activity to maintain the whiteness of the teeth.

Teeth whitening is different from teeth bleaching. Teeth bleaching involves making the teeth whiter than its normal and natural color. This procedure uses bleach usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. On the other hand, teeth whitening is merely restoring the natural whiteness of the teeth by removing dirt and stains.

Why do teeth stain and discolor in the first place? Teeth are covered with enamel in the surface which makes our teeth sparkly white. However, over time, due to acids, food intake and possibly, poor dental hygiene, the enamel wears off and makes the teeth look dull. When the enamel wears off, it exposes the dentin, which is the tough material of the tooth. Dentin is yellow in color.

There are two types of teeth discoloration. One is the extrinsic stain which is in only on the surface of the teeth because of tobacco, coffee, dark beverages, and other reasons due to normal use of teeth. Minor and superficial stains can be addressed by brushing and prophylactic cleaning while more stubborn stains can be dealt by teeth bleaching.

Intrinsic stains, however, are stains in the interior of the teeth. This is caused by age, trauma and exposure to minerals such as tetraclycine or too much fluoride. It was thought that these kind of stains were too deep-set to be affected by bleaching but today, intrinsic stains can be addressed by take home whitening kits that are used for months even stretching to a year.

There are many types of procedures that can whiten the teeth. These procedures can be categorized into three: in-office procedure, take-home whitening kits, and over-the-counter medications.

The in-office whitening is the most expensive and is done by the dentist or a technician. This costs about $650 on the average. Take-home whitening kits are provided by dentists for patients to do at home and continue for a prolonged period of time. This usually costs around $100 to $400. Over-the-counter whitening procedures are the cheapest. This are also take-home kits which uses bleaching gel with paint application.

As in all procedures, there are risks in teeth whitening. One such risk is the sensitivity to pressure and touch during the first few days of bleaching. Some also experience gum irritation which can last to several days to a week. Another risk that comes with teeth whitening is that sometimes that whitening is not even in all teeth as the consistency of teeth are not all the same. This phenomenon is called “technicolor teeth.”

To help maintain white teeth, avoid dark colored beverages that stain and avoid smoking. Practice good dental hygiene will also help maintain the color of your teeth.