Health & Wellness

Teeth Whitening Treatments: Things To Know Before Making Your Appointment!

Teeth whitening treatments are becoming increasingly popular, easily accessible, and affordable. But the credibility of each treatment is something that needs to be looked upon.


Written by Aashika Rajendran

On Feb 2, 2023 – 6 minutes read

Teeth Whitening Treatments

Dental treatments are making it huge in the beauty industry, promising people effective and affordable treatments that are worth the “million-dollar smile”. But are all the methods safe? Are there possible side effects that nobody tells you about? This article is all about teeth whitening treatments and the things you need to know before making your appointment and choosing a treatment option including how and why you face teeth discoloration, various treatment options available, its longevity, risk, and post-care. 

Before getting into teeth whitening treatments and choosing the best option for you, let’s go through some teeth basics.

Teeth Whitening Treatments: Are Yellow Teeth A Sign Of Unhealthy Teeth?

Not at all! It could be genetics. Most people are concerned about the health of their teeth if they aren’t white. Yellow teeth need not always result from poor dental hygiene or oral health.  Here is why?

Teeth Whitening Treatments: Are Yellow Teeth A Sign Of Unhealthy Teeth?

The outermost coating of our teeth known as the enamel has a natural bluish-white color while the layer beneath the enamel that is the dentin has a yellowish color. This yellow-tined color can sometimes show through your enamel giving the teeth a slight yellow tint, but for those who have naturally thin enamel the yellow hue is more prominent. 

Factors That Might Change The Color Of Your Teeth And Make Them Sensitive

Apart from genetics various lifestyle factors could also influence the changing color of your teeth.

  • Smoking 
  • Use of tobacco
  • Aging
  • Drinking too much tea and coffee
  • Dark-colored drinks like wine and soda
  • Too much brushing
  • Scrubbing teeth aggressively can make the enamel weak
  • Using a harsh toothbrush
  • Using baking soda and lime on the teeth
  • Poor dental hygiene
  • Aging enamel
  • Certain medications 
  • Teeth trauma (Falling, cracking, etc)

Best Teeth Whitening Treatments In 2023

Teeth whitening treatments are simple procedures that are also affordable and quick. Teeth whitening treatment options are many, one can either choose an in-clinic dental procedure, cosmetic procedures at a saloon, or over-the-counter at-home bleaching kits. One of the key reasons teeth whitening treatments are as popular as they are is because all of these procedures are effective and one can whiten their teeth to about 6 to 7 shades lighter. 

Before going for any teeth whitening treatment one should know that no procedure will give you permanently white teeth. All procedures require touch-ups, some just less than others. Even after the treatment, following a good dental hygiene routine is equally important to maintain the results of your treatment.

When it comes to teeth whitening there are two ways to go about it-

Intrinsic Whitening And Extrinsic Whitening

Intrinsic teeth whitening is a process that uses a bleaching agent mainly, peroxide, to alter the color of the enamel while in the extrinsic teeth whitening process, the dentist will use a mild cleaning agent to remove the stain from the enamel to reveal the natural color of your teeth. In this process, the natural color of your teeth is not altered(1).

Intrinsic Whitening And Extrinsic Whitening

Intrinsic whitening is usually done when the teeth have lost their color due to internal; factors such as teeth trauma and age were as extrinsic teeth whitening is generally done when the cause is external such as stains from food, drinks, etc.

What Is The Difference Between Bleaching And Whitening Treatments?

Teeth Bleaching treatment is used to whiten the teeth several shades beyond their natural color. Teeth whitening treatments, on the other hand, refer to restoring treatments where your doctors will remove stains from your teeth to restore their natural color which need not necessarily be white. Teeth whitening treatments are usually more popular and recommended than teeth bleaching treatments. 

Teeth bleaching treatments can be either done at a dental clinic or at home with whitening kits. The key difference between these two is the chemical used and its strength. The solution used to bleach teeth in a dental clinic is usually highly concentrated, which can sometimes go up to 40%, hydrogen peroxide. On the other hand home teeth bleaching kits usually contain carbamide peroxide which is so much milder, just about 1/3rd the strength of hydrogen peroxide, making it safe to be used at home.

Some Of The Best Teeth Whitening Treatments

1. Teeth Bleaching 

Bleaching teeth at a dental clinic using high-concentration peroxide solutions or using in-house kits.

Some Of The Best Teeth Whitening Treatments Of 2023

2. Using House Teeth Brightening Kits: Best Teeth Whitening Kits To Use In 2023

  • Crest 3D Whitestrips Professional Effects Teeth Whitening Strips Kit
  • Opalescence Go Teeth Whitening Trays
  • SmileDirectClub Teeth Whitening Kit with Premium Wireless LED Light
  • Colgate Optic White Overnight Teeth Whitening Pen
  • Auraglow Teeth Whitening Pen
  • Go Smile Sonic Blue Smart Brush Whitening Kit

3. Laser Teeth Whitening Treatment 

This is a professional dental treatment where a light-activated whitening agent in the form of a laser is used on your teeth to remove any stains and discoloration. The laser will effectively activate the whitening agent so that it can reach the deeper layers of your teeth. The treatment can take about an hour to perform and the results will be more durable than a normal bleaching or whitening procedure.

4. Dental Veneers Or Porcelain Veneers

The procedure sometimes also known as dental porcelain laminates usually includes covering the teeth with custom-made very thin but strong and durable shell-like covers that can instantly change the shape, size, and color of your teeth. This is one of the most popular treatments among celebrities. 

 Dental Veneers Or Porcelain Veneers

The Risk Associated With Teeth Whitening Treatments

While the procedures are considered to be not complicated and safe, the bleaching agents, in the long run, can make your teeth sensitive, irritate gums, and cause discoloration on some parts of your teeth when it’s not done properly. All the treatments require timely clinical visits and touch up to maintain their durability.

Aftercare For All Teeth Whitening Treatments 

Teeth whitening if once done doesn’t mean you can stop caring for your teeth. To extend the longevity of any procedure doctors recommend

  • Brushing teeth and flossing twice a day. If you have done a smiley piercing brings it will make a lot of inconveniences with brushing your teeth.
  • Going for regular checkups or maintenance procedures. 
  • Avoiding food with dark colorings such as coffee and wine.
  • Doctors also recommend drinking water or rinsing the mouth as soon as you eat food with color to prevent staining.

Not all yellow teeth are unhealthy, what is important is to maintain good oral hygiene. Teeth whitening has its risks which can be managed easily by following your doctor’s instructions and aftercare. At the end of the day, teeth whitening is a personal choice. Hope you found this article helpful.

Frequently Asked Questions On Teeth Whitening Treatments

1. How much is a teeth whitening treatment?

Teeth whitening treatments cost can vary from region to region, depending on the clinic and the treatment procedure you choose. It could cost you approximately between $84.81 to $600.

2. What to eat after teeth whitening treatment?

Fresh fruits and vegetables, water, milk products, and food with protein. Avoid any colored drinks immediately after bleaching treatments.

4. What is zoom teeth whitening treatment?

Zoom teeth whitening treatment is a type of non-invasive, laser teeth whitening treatment that can take about one hour to complete the procedure.
  1. Published by Elsevier Inc. (2022). Tooth whitening procedures: A narrative review. (online). Available at:

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772559622000207

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Aashika

Aashika is a makeup and beauty expert known for creating stunning looks that not only accentuate facial features but also empower women to feel confident in their skin.

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