All the world and its neighbor as the saying goes is becoming obsessed with whiter teeth. Now there is nothing wrong with wanting better, whiter teeth. However we should keep things in perspective. Trying to sift through the potential treatments available can be a daunting task no doubt. Moreover, when we are not thoroughly knowledgeable about teeth whitening and the various methods available to us:

First, the factors that causes teeth discoloration or staining. Top of the list is aging. It is a natural phenomenon. You cannot stop it and the only thing you can do is to have your teeth whitened. Other causes can be put down to tobacco, coffee, tea and even some foods.

Genetics is another unavoidable factor and plays a large role in the color of one’s teeth, and as a result, some people have teeth that simply will not bleach.

There are factors like drugs – antibiotics like tetracycline can cause staining as can too much exposure to fluoride.

Research has shown that yellow and opaque teeth tend to bleach well, while the grayish tinted teeth which are more translucent will not fare so well. Nothing is certain or guaranteed in the teeth whitening business however, so you may just be pleasantly surprised!

There are two very popular methods for removing stains and discoloration from your teeth: whitening and bleaching, which penetrates to the tooth’s core.

The market for teeth whitening is in excess of 2 billion US dollars and growing!

Your teeth getting bleached is dependent on how long the gel stays in contact with the tooth structure. As soon as you brush or eat or drink the gel gets washed away. With the teeth whitening strips you will need to keep them on for 30 minute periods to see some effectiveness. What you should know is that the percentage of hydrogen peroxide in the strips or other over the counter products is very low. Higher concentrations of the peroxide will only be given by a dentist under medical supervision.

Bleaching has no effect on teeth stained by prolonged use of the tetracycline antibiotic. Also bleaching has no effect on crowns, veneers and fillings.

It is interesting to note three major concepts associated with teeth whitening:

• Bleaching is a lifelong chore; one treatment alone is not good enough. True and false. The results of bleaching vary from individual to individual. For you maybe just one treatment will be very effective and then again maybe it won’t.

• Bleaching is not painless and may increase your sensitivity to hot and cold. True and false. No teeth whitening procedure is really harmful and bleaching is relatively painless. Sensitivity and gum irritation may result but usually fades within 48 hours.

• Teeth do not always bleach evenly. True if you have veneers, crowns or fillings.

Here are some tips for you:

• Before opting for bleaching try the over-the-counter products first. Maybe your teeth will not need bleaching.

• Try porcelain veneers. They don’t stain and last 10 years to 20 years.

• Pay periodical visits to your dentist to ensure your teeth and gums are health.

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