The quest for a dazzling smile has been gaining momentum over the last five years. In fact, the number of tooth whitening procedures has increased by 300 percent. So if you’re considering teeth whitening, you’re in luck; there’s never been a larger variety of teeth whitening systems available!

But remember, whether you select an at-home or in-office teeth whitening treatment, the first and most crucial step is to see your dentist for expert advice.

Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic

Your dentist can diagnose the cause of your lackluster smile before setting upon the appropriate course of action. There are two different categories of tooth stain: extrinsic and intrinsic stains. Extrinsic stains are classified as outside agents located on the outer surface of the tooth. Intrinsic stains occur when pigmented materials are incorporated into dental tissue.

Extrinsic stains are more commonly known by the dental layperson. Certain foods, liquids and substances contain chromogenic agents that are known to stain teeth; the most common are tea, coffee, red wine, soda and tobacco. If you’re unsure whether a product can stain your teeth, follow this rule of thumb: If it stains your t-shirt, it’ll stain your teeth!

Vital vs. Non-Vital

Once the cause is confirmed, your general dentist will be best equipped to prescribe the appropriate whitening product. There are two types of bleaching techniques: vital and non-vital. Vital bleaching means the discoloration is confined exclusively to the enamel. Vital bleaching can cause tooth hypersensitivity and gum irritation. Both reactions are purely temporary and vary from person to person.

Non-vital whitening is used for discolored teeth that have been treated with a root canal. This treatment is known as “walking bleach” because the hydrogen peroxide formulation remains inside the tooth between appointments and whitens the tooth from the inside out.

Types of Teeth Whitening Systems

Tray Whitening:

- Dentist prescribed and custom-fit
- Home trays
- 10% carbamide peroxide
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Name brands include Opalescence®, BriteSmile® and Nite-White®

In-Office Whitening:

- Dentist supervised
- Also known as “power bleaching”
- 25-30% hydrogen peroxide
- Name brands include Zoom®, BriteSmile, LaserSmile™ and Opalescence® Xtra® Boost™

Over-the-Counter:

- No prescription needed
- 6% hydrogen peroxide
- Name brands include Crest Whitestrips®, Crest Night Effects and Colgate® Simply White®

Keep in mind that, as with any product on the market, all directions must be followed. Abusing whitening can do serious damage to teeth. Misuse, or over-use, can wear down the enamel of teeth and weaken them. A further danger of misusing whitening treatments is the blue glow that emits from teeth over-treated with whitening agents.

To achieve your optimum smile, make sure to get the advice of a great dentist -- your dentist can help you decide which teeth whitening system is right for you.

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