The Truth Behind 'Tooth Whitening' Products; Foods To Avoid; And Teeth Lightening Remedies That Work!

Whitening mouthwash, whitening floss, whitening toothpaste, and whitening strips are common teeth whitening products that claim to help whiten teeth. But with all the choices in the market today, what is the most effective way to whiten teeth, and how does it work?

Dr. Jonathan B. Levine DMD, Glo Science Founder appeared on a Business Insider video and discussed how tooth whitening products work. Whitening toothpaste works by cleaning off the biofilm on the tooth called enamel pellicle. After having red wine, coffee, tea, and other tooth colorants within 18 hours, whitening products help in removing the biofilm. But, the tooth whitening system works depending on the contact time and hydrogen peroxide content of the product.

While whitening floss and rinses do not have enough contact time to really whiten teeth, whitening toothpaste helps remove stains. Mervyn Druian of London Tooth Whitening Center speaking to Daily Mail UK mentions that the whitening toothpaste is less abrasive now, but might not be effective in whitening tooth all the same. While some contain hydrogen peroxide, since the contact time is less, the effect will be minimal. Druian adds that laser and bleaching kits can help lighten teeth up to 11 shades, the laser being the fastest between the two teeth whitening methods.

WebMD outlines teeth whitening and bleaching methods that are popular today. These include in-office tooth whitening done by the dentist which usually take 30-60 minutes per visit, costing between $500 and $1,000. Teeth whitening home kits are available as well, including tooth whitening strips and gels which cost $10 to $55 lasting at least 4 months, tray tooth bleaching kits with mouthguard tray costs around $150 to $600, and tooth whitening toothpaste with hydrogen peroxide as the main ingredient.

Teeth whitening can be done in a dental clinic or at home. Other products have abrasive ingredients that may be harmful to the teeth. So before trying any tooth whitening products, make sure to talk with a dentist first.