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These whitening products also contain similar chemicals also contained in the whitening gels used by dentists in their teeth whitening procedure.

Only the concentrations differ. Dentists often use 15 to 20 percent of hydrogen peroxide gels for in-office treatment or 10 to 20 percent of carbamide peroxide for at-home procedures. Over-the-counter teeth whitening products typically contain 6 to 10 percent of these chemicals. However, there are some that contain much less.

There also toothpaste available in the market that contain whitening ingredients. However, these whitening toothpastes only prove to remove stains on the surface of the teeth. If the yellowness resides in the dentin inside the teeth, it may not be remedied by just using these whitening toothpastes.

Teeth whiteners are not considered drugs; thus, these products are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Instead, some teeth whitening products make sure that they have the “Seal of Acceptance” of the American Dental Association. Having this seal means that these teeth whitening products have met the standards set by the association in terms of safety and product effectiveness.

Since acquiring the ADA’s “Seal of Acceptance” is quite expensive and not really mandatory, there are manufacturers who do not bother to get their products acknowledged by the organization. But it doesn’t mean that these products are of less quality. In fact, there are some dentists who use or prescribe products that have not been granted the ADA seal.

However, it might prove to be better to go with products that have the ADA seal to ensure that the products are not harmful to your teeth and mouth tissues, and are indeed effective. Also, some products that do not have the seal may only contain traces of the whitening chemical and will not help in whitening your teeth at all.

Having your teeth whitened by a dentist is still your best bet. However, if there are budget constraints, teeth whiteners can also help in achieving your dream of a perfectly white teeth. Just make sure to read the literature carefully to ensure its effectiveness. And if possible, go with those products with that “Seal of Acceptance.”

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People who drink coffee, tea, cola and those who smoke a lot get better chances in staining their teeth. Our teeth can also undergo discoloration with some medications. Genes can also be a cause of having those not-so-white teeth.

But the good thing is that there is already a solution to this problem. Dentists, especially cosmetic dentists, now perform teeth whitening procedures to grant their patients’ wish of having whiter teeth.

Teeth whitening, as the term implies, is a procedure done by dentists to whiten your stained teeth again. There are different processes or procedures that dentists can do in teeth whitening. Each has its own benefits and disadvantages. The dentists should recommend which procedure is the most appropriate for specific patients.

There are different procedures in doing teeth whitening that dentists can recommend their patients. These procedures are as follows:

Britesmile teeth whitening. This is a procedure done in the dentist’s office. It uses a special activating light and a whitening gel to activate the crystals and absorb the light’s energy then penetrate into the enamel for an increased lightening effect.

It only takes one visit to the dentist’s office for this treatment and this procedure usually costs about $600. A disadvantage, though, may be that the change in color is immediately noticed.

Laser bleaching. This procedure is very similar to the britesmile treatment. This is also an in-office procedure. The only difference is that this treatment uses laser instead of a special activating light. The change in color can also be seen right away, just after one visit to the dentist.

Custom fit tray bleaching. With this treatment, a custom fitted tray, made by the dentist, with little amount of bleaching gel is worn over the teeth for a specified amount of time everyday. This is the most common as it costs less than the other treatments aside from the fact that it can be done at home.

This procedure can be done together with laser bleaching when the patient has severe teeth discoloration or internal teeth staining. Some results may be noticed in a couple of days, but full whitening results may take one to two weeks. Also, this procedure requires regular visit to the dentist, about two to five times.

Having your teeth whitened can cost you from about $400 to $1000 depending on the procedure chosen. And the results can last from one to two or three years. With its great results, it surely is worth spending for.