Article by Caterina Christakos







The tooth whitening industry has exploded in recent years, with around 1.7 billion dollars spent annually by over 10 million Americans. The cause of this trend is unknown, but it probably has something to do with the increased prevalence of the media—with all those perfect Hollywood smiles—in our lives. We see those glowing teeth beaming out from televisions and magazine covers, and we start to feel a little bit inadequate, so we want to do something about it.

The problem is that tooth whitening isn’t easy. The most effective methods are done by dentists and can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, some cosmetics and dental hygiene companies are cashing in on this trend by releasing tooth whitening product lines. Unfortunately, many of these are not very effective, and the ones that do work require obsessive persistence, which can be hard for some of us.

How Does Tooth Whitening Work?

In theory, tooth whitening should be relatively easy. Discolored teeth are not stained so much as covered by a layer of residue known in dental jargon as the “pellicle film.” Ideally, tooth whitening treatments would scrape away this pellicle film and uncover the pristine white enamel underneath. That’s what whitening toothpastes try to do; they work extra hard at scraping away that layer.

Unfortunately, after many years, elements of the pellicle film do begin to seep into the pores of your teeth, which is basically the same as staining. That’s why real tooth whitening treatments have to go deep into the teeth and remove the chemical compounds that lead to discoloration.

Dentists who do tooth whitening typically use hydrogen peroxide—the same chemical as bleach. The process involves first cleaning the teeth, then getting rid of the pellicle film, and finally deep-bleaching the teeth so that they become several shades whiter. This can be a rather long and involved procedure, which is testament to how difficult tooth whitening actually is.

Home Tooth Whitening

Over-the-counter tooth whitening products usually operate under the same principle as treatments performed by dentists. Basically, they work away at the outer level of discoloration, and then hey use hydrogen peroxide to get deep into your teeth and lighten the enamel from within. You can even get multi-stage tooth whitening packages that supposedly take you through this process in a methodical way. Then, of course, there are the “Five Minute Power Whitening!” types of products that are not much better than scams.

The obvious advantage to the higher-quality home whitening products is that they’re much cheaper than a professional treatment. The better packages usually run anywhere between and , which would be a steal if they actually worked. Unfortunately, many people either don’t stick with the treatment long enough to make it work, or aren’t good candidates for tooth whitening treatments in the first place. This usually applies to older people or anyone who has consumed excessive amounts of cigarettes, coffee, or wine.

If you’re not in this latter category, then it can’t hurt to give home tooth whitening a try. However, if you want it to really work, it’s a good idea to get a thorough cleaning from your dentist just before beginning the treatment. That way, your dentist will take care of much of the early stages of the process. Your enamel will be closer to the surface, and thus ready to be whitened.



About the Author

Caterina Christakos is a published author and reviewer. Read her latest reviews of hudson jeans sale and 7 for mankind.

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