The Simple Truth and Formula for Whitening Your Teeth

Are light-activated bleaching techniques such as BriteSmile and Zoom, marketed as the best science has to offer in the science of teeth whitening any more effective than less expensive bleaching gels or over-the-counter white strips? In other words, is the exorbitant price you pay - up to $500 - for the light worth it?

The Center for Dental Health (CDH) in Washington, D.C., does not find light-activated bleachings techniques necessary. They offer a system of preloaded whitening trays made by Ultradent Products. The tray adheres to the teeth and is worn for about 60 minutes per day until patients get the results they want. The CDH says the jury is still out on whether light is a more effective whitener; some studies suggest that the light does not enhance the results of bleaching. They found the "lights don't generate enough heat or give off enough UV light to accelerate the chemical reaction."

Professional teeth whitening systems use 25 percent hydrogen peroxide. Approximately seven days later, however; after your teeth rehydrate, that awful color may come back and that's why extra gel is recommended to keep in stock so that the consumer can can apply it themselves.

There is evidence that in-office light bleaching may enhance the process, however; the difference is so small and not 100% conclusive that it hardly compensates for the extra money spent.

Whether a patient chooses chair-side bleaching by a dentist, take-home trays or over-the-counter whitening strips, the mechanism of action is the same, he says. The only difference is how long it takes to get the effect. The stronger the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in the product, the faster the effect. -- Joe Ontiveros, researcher and a dentist with the University of Texas.

Ontiveros still recommends home bleaching trays to his patients first, "because it's got a long track record and it's very predictable."

Overall, there's a simple formula for whitening that smile. Try a high concentration of peroxide and if you want to go all out use Crest Whitestrips.

Remember four out of five dentists recommend Trident Spearmint gum, but what they don't tell you is that it is based only on five dentists who gave the right answers.