Best Teeth Whitening Products For Your Perfect Smile

By Debbie Ruffo


Finding the best teeth whitening products is getting increasingly complicated because of a vast range of choices available to buyers. A flood of new methods and techniques are adding to the existing lot of toothpastes, gels, pens, strips, trays and rinsing solutions. Together, they currently take a healthy $15 billion out of the pockets of 100 million American consumers every year, all promising a brilliant million-dollar smile in return.

Advances in dental procedures and new medical technologies now make it possible to conjure up a perfect row of teeth as long a person is willing to pay for it. The usual methods deployed include the use of bleaching agents and other chemical solutions that are applied using heat and light. Laser technologies have made these procedures a lot more precise and effective.

There's a difference between whitening and bleaching. The former restores the natural color hidden behind years of decay, discolorations and stains. Bleaching, on the other hand, makes teeth even whiter than the natural unblemished color that shows up when teeth are whitened.

These procedures often require dentists with all their medical training and advanced equipment. Sometimes it may need multiple sessions, but simple cases can be wrapped up in one session during the patient's lunch break. There are also quite a few over-the-counter kits available that may be used at home. Some of these products need to be used regularly over an extended period of several weeks.

The problem is deciding which one is required, and then making sure it is done in the right way, with or without a professional's help. Those in doubt should ask their dentist to do an examination to find out what sort of product will do the trick. In-office bleaching is usually what dentists suggest, where they apply the product in one or more sessions using heat, light and/or lasers.

On the other hand, a DIY kit bought over the counter is far cheaper than a session or two with a dentist. Those who believe they can choose the right product and properly use the handling trays and strips or gels will end up saving a lot of money. However, the whole thing has to be done by the book, which in this case means the manual or instruction booklet that is provided with the kit.

A common problem is a tray that is not sized right for the patient's mouth. An improper fit leads to the gel leaking out, which means the procedure will fail and may also cause irritation in the gums. The right way to do this would be to choose a product that allows for a certain amount of customization to make it fit perfectly in anyone's mouth.

It's just as critical that the provider and brand be 100% reliable. Consumers can't depend on the FDA here because this is not a drug. One way to pick out a reliable brand is to look for the ADA (the American Dental Association) seal of acceptance. It's not mandatory, but all the best teeth whitening products have this seal.




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