For quality assurance, look for products that have the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. This means that the organization considers them safe and effective, when used as recommended. [2] X Trustworthy Source American Dental Association World’s largest dental professional organization and advocate for proper oral health Go to source A product lacking this seal may still be safe, but it has not been assessed by this program. [3] X Trustworthy Source American Dental Association World’s largest dental professional organization and advocate for proper oral health Go to source
Baking soda is best for surface stain removal rather than for dealing with deeper brown stains. [5] X Research source Don’t use products with baking soda if you have braces, because it can damage them. [6] X Research source
Products come in different strengths. Carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide are common whitening chemicals. Carbamide peroxide contains both urea and hydrogen peroxide, so a whitening product consisting of 10% carbamide peroxide actually contains about 3. 5% hydrogen peroxide. [8] X Trustworthy Source American Dental Association World’s largest dental professional organization and advocate for proper oral health Go to source If you have sensitive teeth, then select a treatment that contains a lower percentage of these chemicals. [9] X Research source Look for whitening strips that have been awarded the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. [10] X Trustworthy Source American Dental Association World’s largest dental professional organization and advocate for proper oral health Go to source
Its effects can last anywhere from 3 months to several years. Stains caused by trauma, exposure to too much fluoride, or tetracycline antibiotics taken while the teeth were forming are often resistant to whitening. [12] X Research source
The trays you receive are customized to your mouth and, unless your teeth shift, you can use them indefinitely. It’s important to continue using trays on a maintenance basis, typically once every two weeks. [14] X Research source While this process often reduces difficult stains, it is expensive. [15] X Research source
Tartar can make teeth appear brown. During scaling, this buildup is removed from the teeth. The polishing stage of cleaning helps to get rid of surface stains. [17] X Research source
Tooth bonding takes between 30 minutes and 1 hour and can be completed within one visit. If you have several stained teeth, you may need to schedule multiple appointments. While the composite resin will cover existing stains, you must not eat or drink any staining substances within 48 hours of its application. Like teeth, it can also stain over time. Be aware that a composite resin lacks the strength of natural teeth and it can chip. This approach may not be a good fit, if you bite your nails. [19] X Research source
Veneers are costly but they last for around 15 years.
Crowns tend to last for around 15 years.
