On the market today you can a wide range of products to whiten your teeth which include toothpastes, whitening strips, whitening gels, tray based bleaching methods, and of course professional teeth whitening including laser teeth whitening.

The good news is that many of these teeth whitening types can be done in the privacy of your home, are not very expensive, and produce results that most people are happy enough to start smiling again.

Toothpastes

Toothpaste is the least expensive teeth whitening product on the market offering individuals the ability to remove surface stains. These products do not contain any type of bleaching agent and will not be able to remove stains below the surface of the enamel. On the other hand, if you are only looking for a shade or two brighter then teeth whitening toothpaste will be great.

Strips

Teeth whitening strips are small thin strips, which are coated with a whitening gel, usually peroxide, that you place on your teeth. These strips will need to be placed on the teeth and left for 30 minutes at a time, once per day, for 14 days. Most people notice a change in the discoloration in just a few days. The results normally last around 4 months.

Gels

Teeth whitening gels are similar to strips in that they also use peroxide as the bleaching agent. With gels, you brush the gel onto your teeth twice per day for 14 days. This will also work for around 4 months.

Tray Based

The tray based teeth whitening product is so close to the same process that you would receive from the dentist, that many people are using this method. The only true difference is that in many cases, you will receive a one size fits all tray that is not good due to the fact that the bleaching gel can and does seep out around the tray. You can on the other hand find moldable trays, which fit properly. The way in which the tray based teeth whitening product works is that you place the bleaching agent into the tray and then place the tray over your teeth. This method will need to be on your teeth for 2 hours per day or in some cases left on over night. You will need to do the process for 30 days according to the type of stains you may have along with how deep the stains have penetrated your teeth.

The choice of teeth whitening products is an individuals choice, however, many times the cost and time involved has quite a bit to do with the choices. It is best to talk with your dentist to ensure you are using the best method for your situation.