First impressions matter, and a winning smile featuring perfectly white teeth is often associated with a great first impression. For most of us though, time and age take their toll, causing our teeth to eventually exhibit some degree of discoloration.
What Causes Yellow Teeth?
While some people's natural tooth color is more yellow than others, almost everyone's teeth get yellow as we age. Common reasons for tooth discoloration and/or yellow teeth include:1
- Using tobacco (smoking or chewing)
- Drinking coffee, tea, cola or red wine
- Eating foods like cherries, blueberries, beets, tomato-based sauces or soy sauce
- Accumulation of plaque and tartar
- Ingesting certain antibiotics or too much fluoride as a child
- Treatment for certain conditions, like head and neck radiation and chemotherapy
- Trauma that may cause discoloration of teeth
Popular Teeth Whitening Options
Research shows that 67% of American adults have tried to whiten their teeth. Nearly 24% opted for an over-the-counter method vs. going to a dentist's office, and trends show that the industry will continue to grow in the coming years.2
Read on to learn about each of these safe and effective methods, the average costs and the amount of time needed to see results.
1. Over-the-Counter Whitening Strips
Peruse the aisle of your local drugstore and you'll recognize many brands of teeth whitening strips. Whitening strips commonly use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide as active ingredients to bleach stains from teeth.3
The peroxides in teeth whitening strips penetrate the outer layer of tooth enamel and target the pigmented chromogens responsible for intrinsic and extrinsic staining of teeth.3Extrinsic stains, or stains found outside the tooth, are usually caused by factors like tobacco, certain types of food or drink or antibiotics. Intrinsic stains are inside the tooth and are generally linked to deteriorating enamel due to age, medications or genetics.3
Read the directions on over-the-counter whitening strips and follow them carefully, as instructions will vary depending on the product. Typically, strips are applied directly to teeth and manufacturers commonly recommend applying them for 30 minutes twice daily for two weeks.3
Advantages of teeth whitening strips:4
- Effectively whiten teeth
- Easy to use at home
- Readily available over the counter
- Affordable
Disadvantages of teeth whitening strips:4
- Tooth sensitivity or gum irritation
- Overuse can damage tooth enamel
- Proper use requires a time commitment
- Whitening strips have a lower concentration of peroxides than professional treatment in a dentist's office and may result in a less-dramatic whitening effect.
Teeth whitening strips cost an average of $8 to $40 and are easily available at most drugstores.5
2. Professional Whitening at the Dentist
A main benefit of having your teeth professionally whitened in yourdentist's officeis the speed at which you'll see results. Professional-grade gel compounds used in a dentist's office typically have higher concentrations of peroxide than allowed in at-home whitening kits.1
Two popular forms of professional whitening — laser whitening and LED whitening — can see results in as little as an hour, or over the course of two to four visits.6Results can last anywhere from months to years — much longer than over-the-counter methods. The downside is that it's more expensive and can increasedental problemslike gum irritation andtooth sensitivity.6
Laser teeth whitening
Laser whitening, sometimes called “power bleaching," uses a combination of laser power and highly concentrated whitening gel applied to the teeth to get the desired effect. A protective seal is placed over the gums to prevent irritation during the procedure.6
Advantages of laser whitening:6
- Quick results, usually in one session
- Procedure usually lasts one to two hours
- Dentist's expertise and precision with professional-grade technology
Disadvantages of laser whitening:6
- May not be suitable for patients with sensitive teeth
- Can be expensive
- May require more than one visit
Laser whitening costs an average of $1,000 to $1,800, depending on the treatment plan recommended by your dentist.6
LED teeth whitening
Similar to laser whitening, LED whitening uses LED light to activate the peroxide gel applied to the teeth, but at a lower intensity, which may make the process a better option for those with sensitive teeth. While a single procedure usually takes under an hour, the lower intensity may require multiple sessions to achieve the desired results.6
Advantages of LED teeth whitening:6
- Less intense process than laser whitening, which may help with tooth sensitivity
- Usually less expensive than laser whitening
- One procedure usually lasts 45 to 60 minutes
Disadvantages of LED teeth whitening:6
- May need four to five sessions to achieve the desired result
- Could require follow-up care at home or in-office touch-ups
LED whitening costs range from $100 to $400, on average.5
3. Natural Teeth Whitening Remedies
Prevention and maintenance with regular brushing,flossingand periodic dental checkups are the primary way to keep your pearly whites healthy. However, you might also try certain techniques to naturally whiten your teeth at home, many of which have been scientifically proven to be effective.7
- Baking soda.Some studies have shown that brushing with a paste made from one teaspoon of baking soda mixed with two teaspoons of water a few times per week is an effective, non-abrasive method for whitening teeth, as well as reducing bacteria and plaque by creating an alkaline environment in the mouth.8
- Hydrogen peroxide.High concentrations of hydrogen peroxide are typically used in professional-grade whitening products, but studies have found that smaller concentrations found in toothpaste are also effective at whitening teeth.8Safely use hydrogen peroxide at home by diluting a 3% solution with equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water and use it as a mouthwash to whiten teeth, taking care not to swallow. You can also use hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and water to form a paste for brushing several times a week.8
Some natural methods have little research behind them to prove their effectiveness, such as gargling or brushing with apple cider vinegar and oil pulling.Oil pulling entails swishing one to two tablespoons of coconut, sesame or olive oil in the mouth for 10 to 20 minutes to “pull" impurities and bacteria from the mouth, possibly resulting in whiter teeth.7
Advantages of natural teeth whitening remedies:
- Inexpensive
- Easily available
- Some natural remedies have been proven to be effective.
Disadvantages of natural teeth whitening remedies:
- Not as effective as other methods
- Can take considerable time to see results
- Overuse of natural acids and bleaching agents can damage tooth enamel over time.
4. Whitening Toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste contains key ingredients — such as mild abrasives like baking soda or silica — to help remove plaque, tartar and stains from teeth, or low concentrations of peroxide-based solutions to bleach discoloration.9
While regular use of a whitening toothpaste may help manage extrinsic surface stains on the outer tooth enamel from pigmented foods like coffee, tea, red wine or berries, it won't address intrinsic grey or yellow stains found inside the tooth from medications, genetics or tooth trauma.9
Don't expect dramatic results from a whitening toothpaste, as the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide are far lower than what you'll find in the professional-grade gel compounds in your dentist's office or even in an at-home whitening kit. Whitening toothpaste is a good tool for maintaining your preferred shade of white after a professional visit to your dentist, or a possible alternative to whitening strips or in-office treatment for people with very sensitive teeth and gums.9
Whitening toothpaste is readily available at most drugstores or online and averages $2.50 to $20, making them an affordable option.5
Advantages of whitening toothpaste:
- Affordable
- Easy to use and appropriate for most patients
- Easy to find
Disadvantages of whitening toothpaste:
- Unlikely to see the same dramatic results as with other whitening methods
- Some patients develop gum or tooth sensitivity with use over time.
5. Whitening Trays
Teeth whitening trays are a convenient, time-saving, take-home method of whitening teeth. Whitening trays are filled with a concentrate of bleaching gel and are meant to fit snugly over the teeth, much like a mouth guard, so that the gel comes in contact with all surfaces of the teeth. Trays also help protect the gums from exposure to the whitening gel, preventing irritation. Trays might be worn anywhere from one to two hours or overnight.10
Your dentist can create custom teeth trays from a mold taken of your bite, which offers optimal fit and comfort and maximum protection for your gums. Whitening tray kits are also available over the counter (OTC), although the generic trays may not fit your teeth precisely. The bleaching gel you receive from your dentist to be used with your custom trays usually contains a higher concentration of peroxide than OTC bleaching kits, yielding a better, quicker result.10
How often and how long the trays are worn will depend on each patient's condition and desired result. Some people may see results in two to four hours of treatment, others may need several treatments to see results.
Advantages of teeth whitening trays:
- Easy to use at home
- Quicker results compared to other at-home methods
- OTC whitening tray kits are easy to find and affordable.
Disadvantages of teeth whitening trays:
- Ill-fitting trays can cause irritated gums or mouth tissue.
- Overuse of the highly-concentrated gel can contribute to tooth sensitivity over time.
- Custom-fitted whitening trays can be cost-prohibitive.
The cost for an over-the-counter whitening tray kit can range from $7 to $75,5while custom-fit trays from your dentist can range from $150 to $600.11
6. Changing Your Diet and Lifestyle
If you tend to eat the food and drinks that have been mentioned above and are known to discolor teeth, cutting back on how often you eat or drink those items will not only help you lead ahealthier lifestylebut can also help lighten your teeth. Drinking dark-colored liquids through a straw can help prevent tooth discoloration and maintain your results after getting your teeth whitened.1
It can also help to brush and floss after meals so that food doesn't have time to sit on your teeth and create plaque or tartar.12Electric toothbrusheshave been shown to be more effective at cleaning teeth, which can therefore result in whiter teeth.13
Maintaining Teeth Whitening Results
Professional or over-the-counter bleaching can often get your teeth several shades whiter than what you started with. Typical results range from three or four shades lighter when using an over-the-counter product, while professional whitening may result in teeth that are up to eight shades lighter.6
How long your teeth stay lightened depends on what you do after the procedure. Your dentist may recommend follow-up or maintenance whitening, and over-the-counter products will have to be used regularly to keep up the desired color.14
You'll want to avoid bright- or dark-colored food or beverages (especially the ones mentioned above) for at least a week after each whitening procedure.14
CareCredit Credit Card Financing for Teeth Whitening
Whether you're investing in teeth whitening or you simply need a dental exam, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.* Apply todayand use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist or orthodontistnear you that accepts CareCredit to help get you on track to your perfect smile. Continue your wellness journey by downloading theCareCredit Mobile Appto manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go, and easily access the Well U hub for more great articles, podcasts, and videos.
Author Bio
Anne-Marie Kennedy is a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience covering health and wellness, personal finance and real estate/investing.
