Teeth whitening systems, both in-office and at-home, are perhaps the most in demand dental procedures and products today.  Many people prefer over-the-counter teeth whiteners both for the price and convenience.  If you are one of these people you may have wondered if bleaching your teeth at home is as effective as the in-office treatments that dentists provide.  The good news for you is yes, off-the-shelf teeth whitening systems do work!  However, it is a good idea to know what you are looking for and what to expect.

When purchasing over-the-counter teeth bleaching systems, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.  The most important thing to realize is that these are applied and used on your own with no professional supervision.  Therefore, you need to do your homework so you know which ingredients are the safest to use while still be effective.  Make sure you know how to use them; read the directions, don't just assume you know how to do it.  Next, decide if you are going to use whitening strips, or trays.  Both are just as effective, but most people find trays to be bulkier and less convenient.  Whitening strips are less visible and make it easier to talk while wearing them.  Keep in mind that if you choose to go with whitening trays, most products will be one size fits all, unless you go through your dentist.  The problem with using trays that are one size fits all is they are not unique to the individual and provide no customization.  This could lead to the bleach leaking out of the tray and onto the gums and into the throat.  This could cause serious irritation and pain that may lead to infection or other serious problems.  If your main purpose of using at-home products is to avoid the dental office, you may consider choosing a company that allows you to send in an impression of your teeth and they will send you back a customized tray. 

Possibly the most widely purchased teeth whitening products are toothpastes.  Many toothpastes on the shelves today claim to make teeth brighter.  Most of these claims are true, however it does depend on how stained your teeth are, and what kind of food and products have caused them to become discolored.  In general, these toothpastes are just made to keep teeth cleaner and therefore, over time the teeth will become whiter.  However, many toothpastes are very abrasive and are made to remove the external stains.  This will make the teeth appear whiter, but don't actually change the color of your teeth.  As always, the best thing to do is consult your personal oral health professional.  Between the two of you, you will decide what is best for your individual situation. 

No matter what kind of at-home whitening system you choose to use, realize that it will take more time to get your teeth to your ideal shade than most in-office treatments.  Home treatments have a lower concentration of bleaching agents than the products your dentist would use, therefore taking more time to reach the same shade of white.  The general idea is you will get the same result in one office visit as you will using your at home system for one to two weeks. 

Teeth whitening can brighter your smile and have a major positive impact on your life.  It is amazingly convenient to have the power to whiten your smile at home.  If you choose to use an off-the-shelf teeth whitening system, just make sure you know what you're looking for and what will work best in your individual situation to get the best results possible!