Those Little White Lies About Teeth Whitening

Little White Lie #1

The Lie: The best way to get whiter teeth is to use whitening toothpastes.

The Truth: No one would argue that you shouldn't brush your teeth regularly and whitening toothpaste certainly couldn't hurt. Brushing your teeth is vital to the health of your teeth as well as being a basic tenet of good hygiene.

However, the ingredients in whitening toothpastes just don't spend enough time in direct contact with your teeth to provide the kind of results that people tend to believe that they have.

The saliva washes any of the whitening agents away quickly, keeping them from staying in contact for a duration long enough to produce an effect.

Additionally, whitening toothpastes are formulated with whitening agents in concentrations far too low to have much of an impact even supposing that these ingredients weren't washed away quickly by your saliva.

Whitening toothpaste is a great idea but until some radically different type of toothpaste is developed, you won't see any results from these toothpastes that any other type of toothpaste can't produce.

Little White Lie #2

The Lie: Having your dentist whiten your teeth is the best way to get a brighter, whiter smile.

The Truth: Yes, it is true that your dentist can help you to get whiter teeth. However, you don't have to go to your dentist to get the same effect.

The whitening agent which your dentist uses is almost invariably either Carbamide Peroxide or Hydrogen Peroxide: the same whitening agents used in do-it-yourself tooth whitening systems.

The degree to which any tooth whitening procedure is effective is dependent on how concentrated the whitening gel is and the amount of time that the gel spends in contact with the surface of the teeth.

You can get the same results by using a whitening solution with a high concentration of peroxide for a short time (this is the general rule with a whitening procedure performed by a dentist) or using a whitening solution containing a lower concentration of peroxide for a longer time (the way that at home teeth whitening systems usually work).

Of course, there is one other thing to consider here: price. The cost of an office visit and whitening procedure performed by your dentist is far higher than the cost of a whitening treatment which you can administer yourself at home.

The results are the same, but the price of doing it yourself is usually 25% or less than the cost of having your dentist perform the procedure. Knowing this, it should come as no surprise to you that more and more people are choosing home tooth whitening systems.

Little White Lie #3

The Lie: All tooth whiteners produce the same results.

The Truth: There is a lot of difference between tooth whitening solutions. Some products are very effective and others are nearly worthless.

Where these products differ is in the whitening agents which are used. Different products may use one or the other of the two most common whitening agents - but the real difference is in the concentration of these agents, which is what really separates an effective product from one which doesn't get results.

Before you choose an at home whitening product, you should examine the available alternatives, keeping in mind what type of staining you're seeking to reverse and how severe this staining is.

Little White Lie #4

The Lie: Tooth whitening is harmful to the teeth and gums.

The Truth: Tooth bleaching does not harm your teeth or your gums. The whitening agent is applied directly to your teeth and a process of oxidation begins which dissolves the deposits of organic materials which stain or discolor teeth.

No harm is done to the teeth or the gums - it is possible that the teeth may temporarily become sensitive, though this is a short-lived side effect which can be eliminated by reducing the time that the agent is applied to the teeth.

Some whitening gels can also cause minor irritation to the gums - this usually happens because the whitening trays used in the procedure are poorly fitted. This is why using an at home tooth whitening system which uses custom-fitted whitening trays is always the best way to go.

Little White Lie #5

The Lie: Using whitening strips is the best way to get whiter teeth.

The Truth: There's that word "best" again. However, it is not the case that whitening strips are the best, or even among the best methods of tooth whitening.

The problem is that no two people have the same teeth, meaning that a whitening strip can't conform to the surface of your teeth perfectly. Grooves and depressions in the teeth aren't affected and even in the best case scenario, a whitening strip can only get the front of your teeth.

You'll get uneven whitening and very unattractive "stripes" of stained teeth - something which can actually look worse than before you started using the strips!

Little White Lie #6

The Lie: Thermoform trays are cheaper and work just as well as custom whitening tray.

The Truth: In reality, you do need a custom whitening tray to get the best results. You wouldn't assume that someone else's dentures would fit you properly, would you?

A custom tray properly fits your teeth, unlike a whitening strip or a thermoform tray, which leaves unattractive stripes of staining and discoloration where they don't completely stay in contact with your teeth.

A custom tray can also prevent gum irritation by keeping the whitening gel from leaking out of the tray - providing more efficient whitening and less potential for irritation.

Little White Lie #7

The Lie: Paint-on tooth whiteners are the best at home tooth whitening products since they're the easiest to use.

The Truth: If only it were so easy! These products sound like a good idea, but they have the same problem as whitening toothpastes - your saliva will tend to wash away the whitening agent. These products also usually contain very low concentrations of the active ingredient to prevent irritation to your gums and lips.

Other paint on tooth whiteners are basically whitewash for the teeth and do nothing to actually remove stains and discoloration.

Little White Lie #8

The Lie: Teeth whitening systems which use electroluminescence in conjunction with a whitening gel work better than systems which only use a gel because of the high-tech light technology activating the ingredients of the gel

The Truth: As it happens, these products are neither new and high tech nor are they effective. Electroluminescence may look impressive, but it's the same technology used in many children's toys and to provide back lighting for cell phones.

The electroluminescence definitely looks cool, but does nothing to make the whitening agents work better - it is a marketing ploy and nothing but.

Little White Lie #9

The Lie: Tooth bleaching produces the same results for everybody.

The Truth: Everyone's teeth are as individual as they are - and so are their stains and discoloration. There are stains which are more easily bleached away than others.

Yellowish teeth are the easiest to whiten, brownish teeth harder to bleach and grayish stains are the hardest of all to whiten through bleaching.

Little White Lie #10

The Lie: Swallowing tooth whitening gel is harmful

The Truth: Any tooth whitening procedure involves swallowing some of the whitening gel used. It doesn't matter what type of system you choose, the chances of swallowing a small amount of whitening gel are 100%.

There is no risk of injury from swallowing these miniscule quantities of tooth whitening solutions; they may not taste fantastic, but you won't be doing yourself any harm.


Before you buy teeth whitening products online please be sure to go to Teeth Whitening Trays for information you need to know about health issues when using teeth whitening products.Also see more information on where to find the best whitening strips.

The Reason Teeth Whitening Is Popular

With so much emphasis on physical appearances today, it's no surprise that teeth whitening is popular. Physical appearance tops the list of most people as one of the first things they base their opinion of someone else on. The pressure is definitely on to be the best, not just the best at what you do, but the best looking too.

Store shelves are overflowing with pastes, creams, gels, even at home laser treatments that claim to whiten your smile in as little as a few days. Marketing gurus hone in on the insecurities people have, and because of it have hit the jackpot. They know your weak spot and aim for it ruthlessly.

First impressions are most likely formed on someone's physical appearance. When you describe someone, normally you will use a physical feature of theirs. It's more likely that you will say "Have you seen Jim? You know, the tall one?" as opposed to "Have you seen Jim? You know, the nice one?".

Most assumptions are made based on this as well. Perhaps you notice someone is underweight. You are more likely to assume that they have an eating disorder than to consider they may be ill or have other physical problems that have caused weight loss. Having this in mind is a pretty good reason for someone to want to always look their best and always strive towards a nicer physical look.

On top of this fear of being judged, there is a tremendous amount of pressure to be perfect coming from celebrities like models, actors, and music sensations. The pressure is on for both men and women. Svelte figures, smooth skin, and dazzling smiles are a must in show biz. For the non famous, this is a lot up to live up to. Many don't realize that pictures have been photo shopped, television cameras have special lenses, even microphones have filters and enhancers. Makeup artists airbrush the person to hide all the imperfections.

The average person buys right into his by doing everything possible to look like their favorite star. This breaks open the market for such whitening products. With the right ad campaign consumers are left with little choice but to cave in and buy the products that claim they will change not just your looks but your life.

Besides all this pressure from others to look your best at all times, there exists a pressure within oneself to look good. Some agree that their is no harsher judge than yourself. Their are some people who obsess so much over their looks that it turns into a disease. As if the pressures from outside sources were not enough, your own low opinion of yourself can drive you to do everything possible to look better. Hair care, skin care, diet, exercise and teeth bleaching top the list of many people's daily regimen.

Aren't you the first one to notice when you could afford to lose five pounds? Did you notice your earlobes are too long? You have yet another wrinkle popping up around your eyes? Your teeth are not the pearly white they once were, are they? No, surely you should buy some sort of teeth whitening gel right away to fix that. Yes, it's a cruel world indeed, when one can't even manage to love oneself.

What Are The Ways To Acquire Information On Teeth Whitening

Regular grooming habits are crucial for a successful first impression and positive lifestyle. Oral hygiene is extremely important and should be a daily routine.

Regular brushing and flossing is good preventative care, but individuals are looking for a product that can give immediate whitening results. The oral care industry to keep up with the demands of the consumers is always coming up with innovations in their products.

Information on oral care products is sometimes difficult to find due to a lack of awareness. Utilizing marketing mediums shared by companies and dentists, one can successfully find the data necessary to make purchasing decisions.

One of the best resources for obtaining information regarding teeth whitening services and products is to consult your local dentist. A dental professional is the primary source for data related to recent developments in products manufactured by various health care companies.

Certified experts should be involved in the proper treatment of all oral care issues. Schedule an office visit for a demonstration and consultation of services.

Researching many of the oral care related magazines and periodicals currently published is another great source of information. Sometimes certain products are said to cause harmful side effects.

People are not generally aware of such important facts. Appropriate research may inform you of harmful side effects people are not warned about through advertisements found in daily reading.

Other printed sources like advertisements in daily newspapers can also prove to be a huge help. Research is not limited to minimal information and one should not restrict themselves to a few local websites.

To restrict one locally would be a huge mistake and one can avoid committing it by using the internet. The internet is an encyclopedia of information sourced from all over the world.

Thus one can refer to newsletters written by renowned dentists from all over the world by visiting their web sites. Another source to verify online is the product manufacturing company. Credentials as well as the efficiency of the product can be confirmed through an internet search.

It is a huge possibility that certain teeth whitening products are not available and thus would have to be sourced from other countries. It is relatively easier to place an order for it online.

Related post: http://stargaterich.blogspot.com/2010/05/teeth-whitening-what-you-ought-to-know.html

Teeth Whitening - What You Ought To Know

No matter the reason for you wanting to have whiter teeth, you should check out the wide array of teeth whitening products in the market, then determine which products would work best for you based on your teeth's' condition...smokers stain, food or drink stains... check out these facts that would help you make an informed choice when you decide to buy a teeth whitener for yourself.




Fact # 1 - Over-the-counter products are less effective than dental procedures
No matter what promoters of home teeth whiteners would say, the truth is dental whitening treatments are still more effective because the products that dentists use contain a higher concentration of bleaching agents. However, you have to know that in-office teeth whitening is a lot more expensive than over-the-counter products. If you want to save money and if you are not in a rush to achieve whiter pearls, you can rely on these products that can be purchased in both online and offline stores.



Fact # 2 - Home teeth whiteners are safe but may have some side effects

Home teeth whiteners are relatively safe to use especially if you buy high quality brands from reputable suppliers. If you have sensitive teeth, which are two of the most common side effects- gum irritation and tooth sensitivity. You can buy and use products that are specially designed forsensitive teeth.



Fact # 3 - Teeth whitening is not for everyone

Not everyone can have his or her teeth whitened. People who have sensitive teeth, gum diseases, worn out enamel, exposed roots, cavities, or allergies to peroxide are not advised to use teeth whiteners. The main reason for this is that these products contain strong solutions that may worsen the condition. Teeth whitening products also cannot bleach tooth-colored fillings, crowns, and tooth veneers. Children under sixteen and pregnant women are also discouraged from having their teeth whitened. To make sure that you are safe to use a teeth whitener, consult your dentist prior to buying.

This article is not to scare anyone off from getting the white teeth you want just to tell you the truth and to inform you with facts that you should be aware of so that you can make an informed decision during your purchase. It is also necessary to study about the different products available in the market today so you will find out which one is the most effective and most suitable for you.