Is there a difference between Teeth bleaching and Teeth whitening?

Is there a difference between bleaching and whitening?

The FDA sees teeth bleaching as when the teeth are whitened more than they would be naturally. This recommendation applies to all of the teeth bleaching products that contain bleach - specifically carbamide peroxide and also hydrogen peroxide.

When teeth are whitened, the teeth are restored back to what they should be naturally. This is done by removing stains, debris and dirt from the surface of the teeth. So, in effect, teeth whitening is just like brushing your teeth with normal toothpaste.

However, teeth bleaching is often referred to as teeth whitening as it sounds much better than having your teeth bleached!

As the teeth are like porcelain - they are beautiful and sparkling white when we first get them. Over time, the food we eat, the drinks we drink and lots of other outside factors cause our teeth to look grubby. The tooth enamel that protects our teeth is eventually worn down over the years. As this happens, the enamel becomes almost transparent and allows the yellow color of the tooth's inner material show.

Teeth whitening procedures

Someone wanting to have their teeth whitened can have it done at their dentist. The sessions usually only last around an hour and can be very expensive for smaller budgets. A peroxide gel will be applied to the teeth. After this gel has been on the teeth for around 15-20 minutes, it will be removed. Maintenance can be by home kits or other visits to the dentist.

There are also many home kits available that vary in effectiveness and price. There are also teeth whitening toothpastes available to buy. Most of these treatments will show results after a prolonged use.

Which whitening procedure is chosen will depend on the individual budget. Some of the home kits can be expensive, but the majority are cheaper than a visit to the dentist. The whitening toothpaste is relatively cheap compared the other options that are available.

In Office Teeth Whitening

The first teeth whitening solution is an in office teeth whitening session. This option is where you are going to most likely see the most dramatic types of teeth whitening results. The procedure in general is that you are sat down and a dentist or technician will apply a protective coating to your gums in order to protect them from the actual teeth whitening solution that is applied to your teeth. Next the actual teeth whitening solution will be applied to your teeth and it will remain on your teeth for about 20 minutes. You may want to continue to have this procedure done for the next few weeks, or until your teeth have reached your desired whiteness.

Professional At Home Kits

The next teeth whitening option is a professional teeth whitening kit that can be purchased from an actual dentists office. These take home kits are professional strength and are great as a follow up to an actual in office teeth whitening procedure. These kits usually consist of a somewhat custom molded mouth device that is similar to a sports mouth guard. The actual teeth whitening solution is applied into the custom molded device and is then placed onto your upper and lower teeth. These type of kits usually require you to leave the device and solution on your teeth for anywhere from about one hour or sometimes even overnight.

Over The Counter Teeth Whitening Kits

The third option available for teeth whitening is to purchase an over the counter teeth whitening kit from a local drug store or somewhere similar. These types of teeth whitening kits are the lowest strength in all three options, and also the lowest costing option available to you. This type of kit will usually consist of either a brush on type of whitening solution, stick on whitening strips, or a non custom teeth tray similar to the one that comes in a professional kit, except this is a one size fits all. The strength of these over the counter kits is dramatically less and so this means that the amount of time that the actual solution can stay on your teeth is extended.

You should always try to consult a dentist or professional in order to evaluate your options and to make the best decision for you and your teeth.