Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a craze that has consumed much of the civilized world. This process used to be reserved for the dentist's office and required expensive treatments with gels and light therapy. Now, there are several teeth whitening oral care options on the market.

The White Light Tooth Whitening System is a gel and light combination. Seen on TV, this system incorporates light technology to whiten teeth in a short amount of time. The patented WhiteLight system is for home use and is easy to use. You put the WhiteLight gel on your teeth and hold the light emitter machine to your teeth so it rid teeth of stains and whiten teeth. It's also less expensive than a lot of other options.

Gel and Tray-Based Systems
Opalescence is the first ADA (American Dental Association) accepted at-home bleaching gel. It is delivered by syringe to a tray that adheres to teeth. The active ingredient is carbamide peroxide, which is known to cause acute tooth sensitivity. Opalescence is available in 10-, 15-, and 20-percent concentrations and contains fluoride and potassium nitrate to reduce tooth sensitivity, though the gel is pricey. Go Smile is another teeth whitening gel system. Its products are designed for people on the go.

Crest Whitestrips have been clinically proven to whiten teeth as well.
They come in three varieties: Premium Plus for 10-day use that lasts 18 months, Premium for three- to seven-day use for results that last up to a year, and Classic for 14-day use and 12 months of results. These systems use hydrogen peroxide for teeth whitening, which may cause a little less sensitivity than other systems.