Teeth Whitening: What Works and What Doesn’t


8 Comments
November 25, 2009 2:30 am
by Jenna Rogers
Jenna Rogers
 
Jenna Rogers

If you’ve recently noticed that your pearly whites would better be described as pearly yellows or worse yet, nearly browns, then this article is for you. Bringing your teeth back to their pre-nicotine, pre-Starbucks whiteness isn’t as simple as going to your local drug store and picking up some whitening strips. Although at-home bleaching kits and whitening toothpastes are readily available, their effectiveness is questionable. In-office professional whitening systems, such as Zoom! or BriteSmile, are the way to go for the best immediate and long-term results.

Keep in mind there are many variables that will help determine the right teeth-whitening method for you. What color are your teeth? What is the cause of the discoloration? How much money and time are you willing to spend on whitening? Is this something you want to accomplish while watching an episode of Heroes? Or are you willing to spend a few hours in the dental chair? And last but not least, how do you know which ones really work and which ones will leave you yellow-toothed and broke.

Your best bet is to find a dentist who is knowledgeable about the latest and greatest teeth-whitening techniques. Spend some time together, give a great big smile and let the evaluation begin. Once evaluated, your dentist will make some recommendiations as well as review the pros and cons of each option. They will also be able to steer you away from the companies who promise you whiter teeth and then don’t deliver. Don’t get me wrong, your teeth will look whiter, in comparison to your beat red face at the realization you’ve just been duped. One company very popular among the complaint boards is Dazzle White. So do your research! And then get to your dentist so your pearly whites can live up to their name.

8 Responses to “Teeth Whitening: What Works and What Doesn’t”

  1. Richmond Hill dentist Says:
    January 6th, 2010 at 12:10 pm

    Teeth whitening is the number one requested cosmetic dentistry procedure requested by patients. It is a non-invasive and cost effective way to improve one’s smile.
  2. Free teeth whitening samples Guy Says:
    January 10th, 2010 at 3:46 am

    I think it’s very important for people to do their research before getting any kind of free teeth whitening sample from the internet. We have release a report on exactly how to do this, so people can avoid falling into the trap of being charged for something that they thought was free.
  3. Cosmetic dentist in salem ma Says:
    January 13th, 2010 at 5:45 am

    If you have sensitive teeth or gums, defective restorations, or severely receding gums, you should consult with your dentist before you begin any teeth whitening procedure.
  4. Gele Tanden Weg Says:
    January 31st, 2010 at 1:02 pm

    After smoking for about 15 years my teeth were totally yellow. I quit smoking about 3 months ago now and tried various products. Tooth pastes werent much use.

    Only way seems to be to bleach them either professional or at home. Not sure yet.

    Have started my own dutch blog about teeth whitening a couple of days ago haha. Its not a huge industry like in america.

    If you speak any dutch check it out.

    Thanks for the interesting article! Hope you have alot of success with your blog
  5. Naturawhite Dunedin Says:
    February 22nd, 2010 at 1:21 pm

    Yes, research is key especially with teeth whitening. There are too many teeth whitening scams in the news these days to consider. Free trials and all of that sort of thing are causing a lot of problems. That isn\\\’t to say there isn\\\’t bargains to be had but it\\\’s all about doing your homework first.
  6. Mary Johnson Says:
    March 9th, 2010 at 6:09 am

    Very informative article!

    Check out my dentist in Goodlettsville and the information at Rivergate Dental Care

    http://www.rivergatedental.com
  7. Mary Johnson Says:
    March 10th, 2010 at 7:37 am

    Very informative article!

    Check out my dentist in Goodlettsville and the information at Rivergate Dental Care – rivergatedentalcare.com
  8. Mary Johnson Says:
    March 10th, 2010 at 7:39 am

    Very informative article!

    Check out my dentist in Goodlettsville and the information at Rivergate Dental Care – http://rivergatedentalcare.com

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  • Contributor Bios


  • Jenna Rogers
  • Jenna Rogers, RN
    Jenna has worked in the health care field for 13 years as a Registered Nurse, specializing in Oncology and clinical research. Jenna writes articles and equipment and procedure explanations for DoctorBase with the consumer-patient perspective in mind. She is an avid writer and photographer in the San Francisco Bay Area and in her spare time writes a relationship improvement column for Examiner.com.

  • Katie Sullivan
  • Katie Sullivan, RDH
    Katie Sullivan is a full-time Registered Dental Hygienist in Sonoma County.  She recently graduated from Santa Rosa Junior College in 2009, majoring in Dental Hygiene. Katie brings a fresh, young standpoint to DoctorBase as she conveys a current perspective not only to the younger patients, but to the skilled professionals & consumers as well.  Katie is a member of the ADHA, CDHA & Redwood Dental Hygiene Society.

  • James Newman
  • James Newman, MD
    James Newman, MD completed his fellowship in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford University where he continues to serve on the Clinical Faculty. He has performed over one thousand surgical procedures and is trained in the use of every major laser system used in plastic surgery today. Dr. Newman is well known for his surgical expertise and shares his clinical experience by teaching surgical residents at Stanford University as well as authoring over 30 scientific publications related to plastic surgery and laser surgery.

  • Marzieh Oghabian
  • Marzieh Oghabian, DDS
    Dr. Marzieh Oghabian, graduated from Case Western University School of Dentistry in Cleveland OH with a doctor of dental surgery . Dr. Oghabian was awarded the "Excellence in Prosthodontics" award from Case Western where she also completed an externship in Oral Surgery. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Neurophysiology and Biology from University of California, at Davis. She is a member of the American Dental Association.

    • Cheryl Calmis
  • Cheryl Calmis, RDH, BS
    Cheryl Calmis, RDH, BS is a registered dental hygienist in the San Francisco Bay area. She graduated from U. C. San Francisco with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene. Ms. Calmis' clinical experiences include laser assisted periodontal therapy, sedation dentistry, and non-surgical periodontal treatment. Prior to becoming a dental hygienist, Cheryl worked as a Microbiology Lab technician in the biotech industry after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from San Jose State University.

  • Alissa Pacheco
  • Alissa Pacheco, RDH
    Alissa has worked in the dental field for 10 years. She got her dental assisting and dental hygiene degrees at Diablo Valley College. She loves learning about dentistry and enjoys helping people get healthy one smile at a time. In her spare time, Alissa loves to bake and play with her young daughter.

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