Effective Teeth Whitening on Any Budget

These days, teeth whitening is wildly popular. With so many options available, there's no excuse for walking around with yellow, dingy-looking teeth. Now more than ever, it is easy to reverse the effects of coffee drinking, smoking, or just plain aging. So, which treatment or whitening product is right for you? The main factors in making a decision should be cost, convenience, and the level of whitening desired.

The most effective, and most expensive option is laser teeth whitening, or laser bleaching. The procedure, performed by your dentist, involves applying a bleaching agent to the teeth, and using a laser light to penetrate the tooth enamel for an intense whitening effect. This procedure usually requires only one visit to the dentist. The bad news is, it will cost more than $1000 in most cases. Thankfully, great results can also be achieved at home, and with a much smaller price tag.

At-home whitening is an easy, affordable, and quite effective option. Crest White-Strips, along with several other brands, offer strips that are meant to be worn on your teeth, usually twice a day for 30 minutes at a time. These products promise whiter teeth in 3-14 days when used properly. The cost for a box of whitening strips ranges from about $15 to over $40, and they can be found at most drugstores. When used as directed, these products offer great results at home. After 6-12 months, it will be necessary to repeat the whitening procedure to freshen up your brilliant smile.

Another popular product available is a whitening toothpaste. Depending on which brand you choose, plan on spending from $2 to $7. Most whitening toothpastes contain abrasives that gently polish teeth, and chemicals that help break down or dissolve stains. Whitening toothpaste may brighten teeth a bit, but don't expect to see drastic results with this product alone.

Finally. there is a common household product that is great for whitening teeth: peroxide. For less that $1 a bottle, this is by far the least expensive way to improve the appearance of your teeth. Peroxide is one of the main ingredients in at-home whitening strips and whitening rinses. There are a couple ways to use peroxide for this purpose. One option is to swish with it for 60 seconds before brushing. If you can't tolerate the taste, pour a drop or two on your toothbrush along with your toothpaste and brush as usual.

There are countless options available when it comes to teeth whitening. Consider your specific needs and your budget when deciding which whitening method is appropriate for you, and you will have a gleaming smile in no time!