Many people have discoloured teeth to a lesser or greater degree. This discoloration can be due to a combination of many causes, for example from smoking, drinking tea and coffee and even from mineral deposits found in normal drinking water. The effect of all these things is cumulative over time. But help is at hand with a variety of tooth whitening procedures now being available, ranging from inexpensive home treatments, to much more expensive techniques performed by your dentist.

It might also be worth mentioning at this point that tooth whitening is a purely cosmetic dental procedure and that if your teeth aren't entirely brilliant white, then your health isn't going to be affected in any way at all.

When we talk about teeth whitening, what we are essentially talking about is a range of dental procedures that change the color of the teeth to a whiter shade, not necessarily a brilliant white, but normally several tones whiter. The most basic procedures involve simply using a whitener toothpaste, or a gel, or strip, all of which can be found in the pharmacies or stores in most towns. Several cases, these methods can be quite effective on their own. After that come the various in-surgery procedures such as bleaching and laser whitening.

The results of teeth whitening procedures will very dependant upon the precise nature of the discoloration, the teeth themselves and several other factors. All that can be guaranteed is that your teeth will be restored to a lighter shade than before. Some products will have only a slight effect whilst others, including the more expensive procedures, will have a far more pronounced impact on the color of your teeth.

Several products easily obtained in the shops will have only limited effect, only really addressing surface discoloration of the teeth without actively working more deeply. For a more penetrating whitening, the bleaching process can be much more effective, dealing with discoloration even caused by other health issues and even inherited discoloration. One problem which ought to be mentioned is that, with all basic whitening procedures such as described here, obtaining a uniform white color across all teeth is difficult to achieve, if at the outset the discoloration itself is not uniform.

Basic teeth whitening procedures, such as by paste and gel will simply remove superficial stains. But in the dentist's chair, the bleaching process is more effective. This is done by fitting a tray over the teeth which contains a gel of carbamide peroxide. As the gel breaks down, it releases oxygen into the teeth. The oxygen has the effect of bleaching the teeth and removing many discolorations. It can be quite penetrating although the tooth structure is unaffected and fillings, crowns and other bondings will not be changed. The bleaching system can work great with yellowed teeth, but much less well with other discolorations.

To maintain the whiteness, it will be necessary to continue with the whitening treatment at regular intervals, otherwise the discoloration will start returning. Some whitening procedures can be carried out in one session, for others it will be necessary to return to the surgery one or more times until the desired degree of whiteness is obtained.

As regard to the cost of teeth whitening, this can range from just a few dollars for the most basic procedures carried out yourself at home, to many hundreds of dollars for bleaching and laser whitening at the dentist's surgery. The cheapest solution might be to use one of the various whitening kits available on the market. It can sometimes also possible to obtain more powerful whitening agents direct from your dentist. However, best results will normally be obtained by your dentist using the most up-to-date technology, particularly laser whitening.

When considering tooth whitening, don't be afraid to consult with your dentist as to the range of options available and the best option in your particular situation. Also ask about the likely outcome of the whitening procedures. Finally, it is wise to beware of false claims that might be made for various purchased whitening kits. Best results will almost always be obtained in your dentist's surgery.