The way that most dental whitening procedures work is that they actually chemically remove stains and discoloration from the surface of the tooth, and dentists classify two basic procedures for accomplishing whiter teeth – namely “bleaching” and “whitening.” Bleaching whitens teeth beyond their original natural color.
The chemical products used to take tooth color to this stage are usually hydrogen peroxide – the same kind used to bleach hair – or a similar chemical known as carbamide peroxide. Technically speaking, the term “whitening” refers to the process of restoring tooth color to its original whiteness by removing stains, dirt, and other things that can discolor a tooth.
To narrow down that best strategy for making teeth whiter, dentists look at two types of stain.
Extrinsic stains are on the outer surface of the tooth, whereas intrinsic stains are actually inside the tooth and they show through the surface of the tooth enamel. Toothpaste and other home remedies for whitening the teeth can usually deal effectively with mild types of extrinsic stains, although usually a trip to the dentist is required to effectively remove stubborn extrinsic stains.
Meanwhile the intrinsic stains – which tend to be the most noticeable and hard to fix – come about due to tiny cracks or porous areas in the enamel and these interior stains are deeply embedded. They can happen with age or because of exposure to various chemicals – including fluoride or certain antibiotics as a child – that tend to discolor teeth over time.
Because fast removal of either kind of stain can usually only be accomplished by a dentist – and nobody wants to wait a long time to get a whiter smile – it is more effective to leave teeth whitening up to your dentist.
If you have sensitive teeth whiteners and bleaches can also cause discomfort or even extreme pain, and your dentist can also examine your teeth before any procedure to ensure that the process is as healthy and pain-free as possible. In the long run it may cost a little more to have teeth whitened or cleaned by a dentist, but the results are more permanent, risk-free, and immediate – so most people generally find that the valuable results more than outweigh any added expense.
