The human race has been trying to whiten teeth since time immemorial. While some practices have proven to work, dental hygiene brands have formulated products that all claim to make a noticeable difference to teeth whiteness. While some work, others fall flat. When choosing a product for yourself, you need to make sure that it works and that it works for your specific needs. This article aims to find the best whitening products that actually do what they promise.
A Guide to Teeth Whitening Treatments
To be clear, we will be discussing only the products that can be used in the convenience of your own home. There are professional teeth procedures offered by your local cosmetic dentist, which are, by far, the best solution to lighten teeth. But if you are looking for something affordable, easy, and convenient, the use-at-home products are the best, and that is the reason why every brand claims to have the best teeth-whitening solution. But when looked at individually, the products do look impressive. However, the true test of a product is when they are pitted against other similar products from different brands. And that is what we are going to do today. We shall cover various teeth whitening products and try to find the most effective among them.
Before we get to the teeth whitening treatments, you first must understand the “stains”. Teeth stains are of two varieties –
- Intrinsic and
- Extrinsic.
The intrinsic stains are those that are present below or inside the tooth enamel. These stains are mostly permanent and could be the result of genetics, fluoride use, or even antibiotics. In some cases, these stains may lighten over time but would leave some semblance on the teeth.
Whereas extrinsic stains are usually a result of external factors like food habits, bad oral care, tobacco use, or exposure to certain types of radiation. While your local board-certified cosmetic dentist could help with both types of stains, the at-home products can only help with extrinsic stains, and that too, only to a certain degree.
There are several types of products for whitening teeth. Here are the most prevalent practices.
Teeth Whitening Toothpaste
The toothpaste is a popular option as it gets a lot done at once – cleans teeth, refreshes breath, and whitens teeth. They are also relatively cheaper than the other whitening solutions. While ordinary tubes of toothpaste only clean food debris, plaque, and temporary stains from teeth, whitening tubes of toothpaste work on stains that are harder for everyday kinds of toothpaste to remove. They do this by adding some coarse or abrasive particles like salt crystals or silica that rub against the surface of the teeth. Other whitening tubes of toothpaste include bleaching agents like blue covarine, hydrogen peroxide, or carbamide peroxide, which help to provide brighter teeth.
Teeth Whitening Rinses
Mouthwash was primarily formulated to freshen breath quickly without actually brushing. They do so by killing off harmful bacteria. However, now some mouthwashes claim to whiten teeth and give you a brighter smile. Whitening rinses usually contain hydrogen peroxide, which could help remove surface stains from teeth. In truth, mouthwashes cannot do much for yellow teeth that result from years of staining as the mouthwash does not remain in the mouth long enough. Over time, there may be a slight difference in coloring, but the rinses are not a very effective way to whiten teeth. It could, however, be used as a preventive measure, where you use the mouthwash as a daily routine to prevent stains from becoming permanent.
Teeth Whitening Gel & Gel Kit
Whitening gels are rarely found as stand-alone products; they are either included in gel trays, strip kits, pens, or with an LED light that further promotes whitening. Gels contain active peroxides – hydrogen or carbamide, that lighten stains on tooth surfaces, help with discoloration, and brighten dull teeth. The gel consistency is such that it sticks to the teeth surface, and the bleaching agents go to work immediately. However, without a strip or a tray to keep the gel in place, the efficacy of the gel is compromised. Gels are commonly used in dental office settings as here; the dentist can keep the gel on the teeth long enough for it to work and also use an LED light to further boost the whitening process.
Teeth Whitening Strips & Strip Kit
This whitening formula is possibly the most prevalently used and trusted at-home whitening treatment. Most whitening strips have a layer of whitening formula pre-applied on the surface, which then could easily be applied to the teeth. There are also dissolving whitening strips that disappear in about 15 minutes after application, which further eases the whitening treatment. A whitening strip kit would usually include the strips and an LED light. Most strips include hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, but there are also natural non-chemical alternatives, which include ingredients like coconut oil, charcoal, lemon, or salt. Easy application and effective results have made them rather popular.
Scientifically speaking, teeth stains can be removed only by bleaching them away. It is up to you as to how you wish to apply these agents. The bleaching agents react with the tooth enamel to lighten the stains and reveal a cleaner surface. The intrinsic stains mostly manifest on the dentin layer below the enamel. This makes it difficult for at-home whitening strips, mouthwashes, or toothpastes to be very effective. While the at-home procedures do work, the results take longer to manifest and are not as great as dental procedures.
Considering A Teeth Whitening Solution and what to Keep in Mind?
While using teeth whitening products in the comfort of one’s home is convenient, there are certain aspects that you should keep in mind before you decide to settle on a product. But before beginning, you should be aware that none of the products we discuss here would give you results similar to professional cleaning jobs. A dentist has access to tools and products that are a lot more potent than what you get with over-the-counter products. This is because professional-grade bleaching agents have to be used after a certain degree of training that is not something you may have access to. The products that are available to the general public for whitening treatments are a lot milder and, therefore, a lot safer to handle and use. The results are equally diluted.
Before you choose a product, you have to consider certain factors like age, how long the stains have been on your teeth, sensitivity, and previous dental work, like veneers or crowns that you have fitted. All these factors would affect the efficacy of whatever whitening kit you use. You should know that at-home whitening kits do not work on veneers, crowns, or any artificial components in the mouth. They only work on real human teeth. Some other factors that you should look for before settling on a product are the following.
The Active Agent
For a whitening product to be effective, it has to include bleaching agents – natural or chemical. The doses of these agents would determine the extent to which the teeth would whiten. Chemical agents like hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide work best. The peroxides are able to strip the teeth clean of surface stains (extrinsic stains) but they are included in lower percentages than what you would get from a professional setting.
Appearing in most whitening kinds of toothpaste, gels, and strip kits, the peroxides make for the most effective cleaning agents. Natural ingredients like coconut oil, sea salt, and lemon zest also make an appearance but their efficacy is ‘iffy’ at best. These natural alternatives may work on very light stains but the whitening does not last very long, if it does at all.
The Type of Stains
Intrinsic stains are the hardest to get out and for these, the best plan of action would be a professional sitting with a cosmetic surgeon. Extrinsic stains can be handled by OTC products. Stains left by food coloring, red wine, sugar intake, and smoking could be lightened for an extended period, provided that you take the necessary precautions.
Possible Side Effects & Risks
No whitening treatment is 100% safe. Your pearly whites can take a certain degree of bleaching before it begins to break down. Bleaching agents, chemical or otherwise, work on the tooth enamel. Extended and extensive use of whitening solutions could increase tooth sensitivity. Sensitive teeth make it difficult for you to consume beverages or foods that are hot, cold, or sour and are also more prone to breakage and chipping. Another risk is sensitive gums. The bleaching agents would come into contact with the gums, giving rise to gum irritation or disease. There have been some complaints of blistering and bleach burns.
There is also a chance that the results you get may be uneven. Like, when you apply teeth whitening strips, they may not be able to make enough contact with the side or dents in your teeth, making the color of your teeth uneven. Also, the results from at-home procedures don’t last very long, which translates to repeated treatments over the months. This gives rise to yet another problem, which is next.
Cost
When compared to regular toothpaste or mouthwash, the whitening counterparts are a lot more expensive. Teeth whitening strips, LED lights, and color correction pens cost extra. The added expense may not be welcome to many.
Convenience
Your comfort is ideal, and maybe staying in a chair for hours and having another person stare into your mouth does not work for you. In that case, an at-home procedure would be a better solution. With so many options available – teeth whitening strips, lights, toothpastes, gels, and pens, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to finding a whitening procedure that fits into your life schedule.
The Brand of Product
A lot depends on the brand. There are a few established dental product brands like Colgate, Crest, Ismile teeth whitening strips, Zimba Teeth Whitening Strips, etc., that have released their own whitening products. However, you would also find brands on the internet that claim to get teeth shades whiter in two weeks. Some brands work, but most don’t. You must read reviews, find articles, and check ingredients before committing to a brand and product. A brand you have heard about may not always be the best option for you.
The Best Among the Options
To help you make an informed decision, we have culled out the best of each type of brightening product and described them briefly. This could help you find the product that works best for you.
The Best Whitening Toothpaste – Colgate® Optic White® Pro Series Toothpaste
When talking about whitening toothpaste, you should keep in mind that no one brushes their teeth for longer than 5 to 7 minutes. So, for a toothpaste to have whitening properties, either the paste must include a greater dose of bleaching agents, or the brand expects you to brush longer every day, twice a day. Neither is okay because brushing aggressively for longer durations could erode the enamel.
The best teeth-whitening toothpaste was found to be the Colgate Optic White Pro Series. This product contains 5% hydrogen peroxide and is available over the counter at your local drugstore. The product claims to prevent the formation of new stains, keep the tooth enamel safe, freshen breath, and prevent cavity formation. The toothpaste also makes a bold claim of removing 15 years of stains off of your teeth when you brush twice a day for at least two weeks. The active ingredient mentioned is Sodium Monofluorophosphate (0.76% (0.12% w/v Fluoride Ion), which can prevent cavities, but there are no active whitening ingredients in the paste as such.
Cost: Depending on your point of purchase, the Pro Series toothpaste cost ranges from $8.99 to $10.46
The customer reviews are mixed where some users mention that the toothpaste was able to eradicate surface stains, while others mentioned that it did not do much in terms of whitening but works as a regular toothpaste rather well. There was also a comment about how the toothpaste caused blisters and painful chafing. Overall, when it comes to the efficacy of this product as a teeth whitening – the results are not as impressive.
The Best Whitening Rinse – Colgate Optic® White® Whitening Mouthwash
Interestingly, the No.1 Dentist Recommended Whitening Mouthwash is also a part of the Colgate Optic white series. When we looked at the official website, we did not get much information as to how the product actually manages to do that. Hydrogen peroxide is mentioned a couple of times, but how much is added is left unsaid—the ingredients list, though, makes no mention of hydrogen peroxide at all. The mouthwash is alcohol-free, protects the teeth’ enamel, and provides you with fresher breath. The site does mention that the rinse can work only on certain types of stains and would take longer to whiten as it is diluted with water.
It is recommended that you use the rinse alongside the whitening toothpaste if you are looking for better results. The mouthwash is designed to lockout stains and prevent stains from forming rather than actively working on the stains that already exist.
Cost: You can buy the product for as little as $18 per bottle, but prices would vary depending on where you buy the product from.
Surprisingly, the official website does not mention any reviews for the mouthwash. The reviews on other websites all mention that the product is an excellent mouthwash, but we found it hard to find a review that mentioned the whitening property. Reviews that mentioned teeth whitening were few and far between, and even those were not impressive. The efficacy of a teeth-whitening mouthwash does not inspire confidence, and while the Colgate product is a great mouthwash, we have doubts about its whitening abilities.
The Best Whitening Gel – Opalescence™ PF 35%
A carbamide or hydrogen peroxide gel is often perceived as the most efficient whitening system. This is because the consistency is such that the gel adheres to teeth surfaces, and in most brands, a tray is included in the kit to help keep the gel in place. Although most brands call the tray ‘custom trays’, they are not custom-made for your mouth and teeth. Many customers find the tray an uncomfortable fit; the gel itself is pretty effective. Of all the gel brands available, Opalescence™ PF 35% is the most popular. If you pop over to their website, the first impression you get is that the website is aimed at professional dentists rather than the general public. The gel kit is created as a take-home treatment to be used as per the advice of your dentist. The gel is vegan, cruelty-free, and kosher.
Opalescence is a potassium nitrate and carbamide peroxide gel available in five concentrations that would be recommended to you by the doctor, depending on your tooth stains. The gel is administered into the trays via a syringe. The product is also available in three flavors, and an average application lasts 30 to 60 minutes.
Cost: The cost ranges from $25 for a pack of two syringes of the gel to $300 for the gel kit with the tray.
Customer reviews for the efficacy of the gel are positive. The only complaint is the cost, which we must agree is pretty steep. Also, the gel treatments warrant a visit to the dental surgery, so it isn’t, in the strictest sense, OTC. There is a risk of getting excess gel into one part of the tray, which could lead to uneven coloring, but that is just a measure that you must keep in mind when applying. Overall, as a teeth whitening treatment, the gel is a success.
The Best Teeth Whitening Strips & Strip Kit – Nubeam Supersmile Teeth Whitening Strips
For a whiter smile, teeth whitening strips are, by far, the easiest and most convenient of the lot of products. Not only can the strips ensure whiter teeth, but they are designed for single applications with just the right amount of product on each strip, so there is no chance of ‘over-dosing’ on bleaching agents. Depending on the product, they could even be used for extremely sensitive teeth, as there are strips that use natural ingredients.
The white strips can either be used with an LED light or just as is. This means that you are in control of the level and speed to which you would like the whitening. The best whitening strips include Nubeam Supersmile and Crest 3D Whitestrips. Because we are looking only at the best possible product – Nubeam, it is. The teeth whitening strips work by using a vegan and cruelty-free formula that goes to work immediately on application.
Nubeam offers you the Option of using an LED Booster Light, which is available with the complete kit, or just using the strips by themselves. While other teeth whitening strips depend on brand value, gimmicks, and market formulae, Nubeam’s no-nonsense formula and dentist recommendations make it a force to reckon with in the teeth whitening world.
Cost: A two-week teeth whitening strip would cost $49, while the kit, which has 14 strips and LED Device, costs $79.
Customer reviews for Nubeam are stellar, with satisfied customers singing the product’s praises online. Most users claim that Nubeam has the most effective teeth whitening strips available at reasonable prices. Most customers were able to see a reasonable difference only after a few treatments. In addition to whitening teeth, Nubeam also seems to take care of the enamel and is the perfect product for at-home whitening.
Click now to get your Nubeam Teeth Whitening Kit at a special discount! Don’t miss out on the secret to a sparkling smile that shines as bright as you do!
A Quick Comparison
Since we have mentioned the best possible choices among the various categories of products, it is only fair that we compare them for you. After this, you should have a clearer idea of what works for you.
Colgate® Optic White® Pro Series Toothpaste | Colgate Optic® White® Whitening Mouthwash | Opalescence™ PF 35% | Nubeam Supersmile Teeth Whitening Strips | |
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Product Type | Toothpaste | Rinse or Mouthwash | Whitening Gel | Whitening Strips |
Pros |
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Cons |
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Reviews | Mixed | Mixed | Positive | Positive |
Application | Brush as usual – twice a day | Use after brushing, twice a day | As per the doctor’s instructions | Apply strips for 60 minutes every day for two weeks |
Result Timeline | Results vary | Results vary | Depends on stains | Two weeks |
Cost | $8.99 | $18 | $25 for two applications | $49 for 14 strips |
Refund Policy | The refund policy of the product is influenced by the place of purchase. | 30-day return window. | ||
Where to Buy? | Purchases can be made from their official source or websites like Amazon, Walmart, GNC, etc. | Buy Supersmile Teeth Whitening Kit/Strips from the Official Nubeam Website. |
Conclusion
Stains on teeth could put a serious dent in your confidence. Dentists offer several teeth whitening options, but those procedures could prove to be expensive and time-consuming. As an alternative, several brands have come up with whitening options – toothpastes, gels, mouthwashes, and strips. Although the gel kits were found to be the most effective, they were also the most expensive option. Affordable, effective, safe, and guaranteed – these factors were only provided by the Nubeam Supersmile Teeth Whitening strips. You have the freedom to do what you want while wearing the whitening strips, so you do not even have to take the time to brighten your smile.
When it comes to easy and convenient teeth whitening, Nubeam is what we would suggest.
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