Tooth Whitening – Not Just for Movie Stars Anymore!

There was a time in the not-so-distant past when tooth whitening lay only within the realm of movie stars, other celebrities, and the wealthy. Not any longer! Just about anybody, today, can go to their local drugstore, grocery, or discount retailer and find tooth whitening products, without even thinking of calling a dental professional.

Like many things, achieving good tooth whitening success depends on time and money: how much of both you have. The more money you have available to spend, the less time it takes. And, of course, the more money you have, the better results you’ll achieve, as well.

Home Tooth Whitening 

Tooth whitening can be accomplished at home. You no longer need visit a dentist. The tradeoff? Getting those pearly whites really white takes much longer when you do it at home – BUT, you can save a bundle of money by being patient. For instance, Crest makes “Whitestrips” and Colgate makes a product called “Overnight.” The first are strips to cover the front teeth; the second is a gel. Both packages last about two weeks and run in the $20-$25 range. Even less expensive, a product called Plus+White 5-Minute Whitening is a tooth whitening kit with enough product to last longer, covers ALL your teeth, and only costs about $7-$8.

To get tooth whitening action fast and more professional, though, means visiting your dentist. Bleaching with a combination of hydrogen peroxide and cabamide peroxide (or sometimes one or the other), the dentist then directs laser or high-intensity light to the teeth, which activates the bleach. This procedure only takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour-and-a-half, and lasts anywhere from six to 24 months before follow-up treatment is usually recommended.

Dentist-provided tooth whitening is not cheap, however. Prices vary from dentist to dentist, but usually range anywhere from $400 to $500 all the way to $2500, depending upon the degree of whiteness desired and the number of teeth to be bleached.

Whichever method you choose for tooth whitening, you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise with whiter, cleaner-looking teeth. So give it a shot – there’s nothing like flashing a bright, beautiful smile to the world!