Home Teeth Whitening Pros And Cons

It wasn't that many years ago when the only way a person could have his or her teeth whitened was through a costly in-office whitening treatment by a dental professional. Today the situation is very different. In response to consumer demand fueled in part by society's ever increasing obsession with looking and feeling better, there is now a growing supply of home teeth whitening kits and products on the market available to those who are looking for a more affordable alternative.

Home whitening is relatively inexpensive compared with professional treatment. Lower costs, coupled with the convenience of an in-home procedure, have combined to make home teeth whitening an increasingly popular cosmetic dental procedure among people looking for whiter teeth and a brighter smile.

Whitening products for use at home include whitening strips, sprays, toothpastes, and brush-on gels. While simple, convenient, and inexpensive, these products vary in their effectiveness and there are limitations to each. A much better option is a whitening kit, available in both prescription and over-the-counter strengths.

The prescription strength kit, though more expensive than the over-the-counter option, is probably the better choice since it produces better results. Provided by your dentist, and used under his supervision, a prescription strength whitening kit usually consist of mouth trays that you fill with whitening gel. The gel typically contains carbamide peroxide as its bleaching agent.

After filling the tray with the bleaching gel, you place it on your teeth. A typical application can last as long as five hours and needs to be repeated several times over a one to two week period.

The major drawbacks associated with using a home whitening kit include the time needed for each treatment, the number of treatments required, and the fact that it can take several weeks to see results. Still, the lower cost makes this an attractive whitening alternative for many.

Another obstacle to home teeth whitening for some include the safety considerations involved. Teeth whitening in general, and home whitening in particular, are recommended only for those who have healthy teeth and gums to begin with. For this reason it is highly advisable to visit your dentist for a checkup before beginning any home whitening treatment, otherwise painful and potentially permanent damage to your teeth and gums may occur.

For most people looking for whiter teeth and a brighter smile, the decision whether or not to consider home whitening primarily boils down to a question of cost. Professional whitening performed in a dentist's office can cost hundreds of dollars, and even as much as $1000 for a laser whitening procedure, while in contrast a home teeth whitening kit can cost as little as $20 or $30. For many it's not a difficult decision at all.

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About the Author

Tony James publishes the Best Teeth Whitening Guide. Visit his site to learn more about Home Teeth Whitening.