By Rachel Lewis
Brushing, flossing and mouthwash promote healthy teeth, but brilliantly white teeth may require additional work.
There are many different products to whiten your teeth, but all of them can be categorized into three basic groups.
The first method of teeth whitening is laser whitening done by some dentists.
It is recommended for people who 'have more money than time,' said hygienist Kris Davis.
It takes a little over an hour to do your top or bottom eight teeth and can cost around $600 for both top and bottom in some offices.'
'Some of the problems we have found with laser whitening are that we have a limited amount of time to expose each tooth to the laser,' Davis said.
'This can create a situation where desired results can''t be achieved and we also find patients complaining of higher sensitivity levels.'
Since most people have more time and may be on a stricter budget, there are other options available with those with less-than-perfect smiles.
The second-most popular method of tooth whitening is home bleaching.
Dentist Ken Lewis said home bleaching trays are more effective than laser whitening, and patients tend to experience less sensitivity.
Dentists can make custom home-bleaching trays for about $100 to $300.
'We have found home bleach to be the most effective method and a difference can be seen in a matter of hours after wearing the bleach,' Lewis said.
Chandra Wilder, a home-bleach user, said she is very happy with the treatment.
'Whenever I want to touch-up my teeth, I just pop in my tray for a couple of hours.'
Custom trays are not only available through your dentist, but also through small businesses. Mall kiosks throughout Utah offer custom trays with several syringes of bleach for around $75.
'I''m personally surprised we haven''t seen someone offer this type of service earlier,' Davis said.
Businesses that offer custom trays as well as dentists make the trays using impressions, or molds of the teeth. This allows a tray to be formed so that it will fit tightly around each tooth.
'These businesses really do have a good product,' Lewis said. 'The only difference from their current product and what dentists offer is that dentists can offer fluoride in bleach that can take away some of the sensitivity that can be caused by bleaching.'
A common problem experienced from home bleach users is an increase in teeth sensitivity from the carbamide peroxide found in the bleach. The peroxide does not harm the teeth, though.
The important matter Lewis stressed concerning home bleaching is to check the dosage of carbamide peroxide and if you''re getting a tray that is custom made for your teeth by using impressions and not just soaking a piece of plastic in water to create a mold.
'Some of the products I see on TV where you make your own tray I question because the trays may not cover the teeth correctly,' Lewis said. 'Trays that cover too much of the gums can irritate the gums, but trays that don''t fit tight enough to the teeth can cause the bleach to wash out faster.'
The third group of teeth whitening products can be found in your local grocery store.
These products include Crest Whitening Strips, whitening toothpastes and teeth whitening gums.
'The Crest strips are based on the same principle as the bleaching trays but just eliminate the tray and stick the bleach right to the teeth,' Lewis said. 'They are effective, but work at a much slower rate than the bleaching trays.'
Crest strips have a carbamide peroxide strength of 4 percent. At a lower dosage results will come, but not as quickly nor dramatically as a higher percentage of bleach. Dentists can also order strips unavailable to the public with a strength of 6 percent.
The 4 percent strips run around $40 for 30 strips and the 6 percent strips must be bought through the dentist.
'The strips are nice if you''re looking to lighten your teeth gradually,' Lewis said. 'It is a slower process, but they do work. If you think you may use more than one box, I would suggest just investing in custom trays.'
Lewis also mentioned that strips only cover and whiten front teeth.
As for products found in grocery strips such as whitening toothpastes and gum, Dr. Lewis sees little chance these products will produce a noticeable change in tooth color.
'The products probably do contain bleaching agents that may whiten teeth, but the problem is that they are only able to stay on the teeth for such a limited time that it makes little to no difference.'