How Does Teeth Whitening Work: Everything You Need To Know

Jul 27, 2022

Having a bright, white smile doesn’t come naturally to a lot of people. When you’re dealing with some tooth stains and discoloration, you may need tooth whitening treatments in order to get to the shade you want.

Tooth whitening is a very common dental procedure, and you can even find over-the-counter kits to change the color of your teeth at home.

But before you choose a whitening method, check out this article to learn everything you need about tooth whitening!

How Tooth Whitening Works

Most tooth whitening products work with the same principle. The solution contains a whitening agent, such as hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, which needs to touch the surface of your teeth to break down the molecules that form the stains and discoloration.

Though you can see a change after just one use, usually patients will need several tooth whitening sessions in order to get to the shade they want.

Take-Home Vs. In Office Products

If you ask your dentist about tooth whitening procedures, you’ll likely be given two options:

Take home
In-office

With take-home kits, the dentist will provide you with a tray and the whitening solution, and give you specific instructions on how to use it. It’s a convenient way to brighten your smile from the comfort of your own home, though your dentist will likely still want to check in at the end of your treatment to make sure the results came out as expected.

With in-office treatments, the dentist essentially applies a concentrated solution with the whitening agent on your teeth which will brighten them multiple shades lighter in just one appointment. In-office treatments will take less time to give you the shade you want, and are fully monitored by your dentist.

How Do Over-The-Counter Products Work?

There are a variety of OTC whitening products. Technically, they should work the same as professional kits, although the whitening agent in them is much lower, so it will take longer for you to see results.

However, it’s important to make sure that the OTC kit genuinely contains a whitening agent that can affect natural tooth enamel. Many products claim to provide a “safer” or “natural” alternative that likely won’t change your tooth color.

Is Teeth Whitening Safe?

Tooth whitening is perfectly safe when monitored by a trained professional. Even with an at-home kit, your dentist will provide instructions to ensure the process doesn’t affect your teeth.

Most patients can feel a bit of sensitivity right after treatment, but this usually wears down right away.