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How to Whiten Teeth at Home
By Jeff Morley

Allure Magazine
October 2004

Morley, a cosmetic-dentistry expert based in San Francisco, has been bleaching teeth for 25 years.

Drugstore products make fantastic claims, like promising to "Whiten Teeth 14 Shades!!!" Well, the scales we use at the dentist's office only have five or six shades. If your expectations are reasonable, you may be happy. If not, you can see your dentist for a stronger prescription whitening, knowing you tried the least expensive option first.

Know the limits. Studies have shown that yellow and brownish discolorations (most often from coffee, tea, red wine, and cigarettes) respond to tooth whiteners best. Gray tones (from childhood antibiotic use or exposure to metallic compounds) are more stubborn and should probably be treated by a dentist. The same goes for teeth with striped discolorations or white spots-home bleaching can be uneven, or even make the contrast worse.

Choose wisely. Check labels, and get the highest concentration of carbamine or carbamide peroxide you can find, if the percentage is listed on the label. Drugstore whiteners tend to contain around 3 to 10 percent of the ingredient, compared with in-office bleaches, which contain 10 to 20 percent.

Be a stripper. Strips provide a closer fit to the tooth than drugstore bleaching trays. (In contrast to the custom molded ones you get at the dentist's, drugstore trays are the equivalent of buying shoes two or three sizes too big--and then going on a five-mile hike.) Strips also tend to be cheaper.

Stick with it. Follow the directions, and complete the entire duration of the treatment. The concentration of active ingredient in drugstore whiteners is relatively low, so they can take a week, two weeks, or even longer to work. To gauge effectiveness, take a picture of your teeth before and after in the same light.

Don't get irritated. The most common problem with home bleaching is gum irritation, so don't let the strips or solution touch them. If you have any pain or redness, stop using the product, and call your dentist. People with sensitive gums are better off with the dentist's customized trays-they fit so closely that gum contact is negligible.

Stay pearly white. Bleaching products can make teeth temporarily more susceptible to absorbing new stains. Avoiding the worst culprits while bleaching and for the first few days afterward will prolong your results. If you can't live without your coffee or Merlot, drink them through a straw.