Who doesn't want to have that bright white smile? It's one of the cosmetic concerns that people aspire to achieve. Even if you're not that attractive, a set of pearly white teeth makes a big difference. In fact, to be complimented for having a beautiful smile is directly connected to possessing a clean-looking set of white teeth.
But not everybody was born with a set of perfect white teeth. For many people, a set of whiter teeth is something to be achieved like having a house or a car. Fortunately, there are available products and procedures out in the market to help you achieve just that.
For starters, you can go to your dentist and ask him about the product or procedure best for your condition and your financial capability. For example, you should learn that not all whitening procedures treat all types of tooth discoloration. The teeth that bleach well are the yellowish hued teeth while the brownish-colored ones bleach less well. The hardest to bleach are the teeth colored grayish. Furthermore, if you have tooth-colored filings placed in your front teeth, any whitening procedure will never enhance your smile because these enhanced dental fixtures doesn't bleach at all and will only stand out giving you uneven colored set of teeth. It is in this case that you can opt for porcelain veneers or dental bonding.
Office bleaching, also called chairside bleaching is so named so because this whitening procedure can be done in your dentist's clinic. The dentist will use a protective gel applied on your gums to protect the soft oral tissues before the bleaching agent is applied to the teeth. A special light like laser may be used to hasten the process of whitening. In lieu of the protective gel, a rubber shield is equally effective.
Chairside bleaching requires more than one clinic visit with each session lasting from 30 minutes to an hour.  The American Dental Association or ADA approves a number of in-house bleaching agents. The ADA Seal of Acceptance is an assurance that the product is safe and effective. For products using laser to hasten the bleaching process, no ADA seal has yet been seen on any of them.
For the At-Home procedures, whitening products can be secured from your dentist or bought over-the-counter (OTC). The bleaching solutions available contain peroxide that acts on the tooth enamel. The bleaching agent—Carbamide peroxide—comes in different concentrations: 10%, 16% and 22%. Ask your dentist which concentration is best for you.
These whitening products that contain peroxide usually come in a gel and placed in a mouthguard and fitted in the mouth to cover the entire set of teeth. The length of time used varies from case to case and from brand to brand. Some must be worn twice a day for 2 weeks while the others are for overnight use for 1 to 2 weeks. Ask your dentist if he can mold a mouthguard to perfectly fit your teeth.