Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure performed for those patients who desires a whiter teeth and brighter smile. Teeth whitening can be done to reduce discoloration and staining due to various reasons. The various aspects of teeth whitening should be known and understood to find out exactly what teeth whitening can do for you.

A number of techniques can be used to enhance the brightness of your teeth. Abrasive teeth brightening (by scaling or by whitening tooth paste), chemical whitening (e.g. bleaching), mild acid whitening, laser teeth whitening etc. are the most popularly applied techniques for better teeth whitening results.

Some whitening systems, dentists and online services claim that their system is capable of whitening your teeth by nine shades. Where as a change of maximum three shades is sufficient for a significant difference in anyone's smile. There is no standard procedure to determine or measure the teeth color. However, the most commonly used whitening guide is the Vita shade guide. This guide distinguishes the teeth color into four basic shades: gray, reddish gray, reddish brown and reddish yellow.

Reddish brown has five levels of darkness. The other shades have four levels each. Any individual's teeth are never same in color. Generally the eye teeth are darker than the other teeth. The front teeth are usually whitest and the molars are in a shade between these two. The objective of whitening your teeth should be to achieve optimum whiteness that gives a natural look.

Teeth whitening results is the outcome of your teeth's structure and the type of procedure implemented. The whiteness may vary according to the procedure implemented. It also depends on the individual's teeth structure and nature. During initial consultation for teeth whitening your dentist will adopt the procedure or recommend you a suitable one depending on your choice and requirement.

Discoloration of the Teeth enamel can be caused due to aging, staining or chemical damage to teeth. The common causes of teeth discoloration are smoking, tea, coffee and medications. Those who drink considerable amount of carbonated soft drink can also experience staining.

There are some other factors which influence the color of the teeth. Genetic factor usually plays an important role. Diseases related to teeth and the medications applied can cause discoloration of the teeth. If you suspect any underlying medical reason, inform the same to your cosmetic dentist as soon as possible.