What are some inexpensive options for teeth whitening?

Peroxide: Peroxide is the key ingredient in most whiteners. This safe-for-the-mouth bleaching agent forms bubbles on enamel that lift away stains. The higher the concentration of peroxide and the longer you leave it on your teeth, the whiter they'll get. The downside: bleaching molecules can get trapped in nerve passageways, causing increased, though temporary, tooth sensitivity.

Pay the price!: If you want to whiten your teeth go to a dentist and pay the price. The inexpensive options such as the over the counter products take a lot longer and do not give you as good of a result.

Quality is Best : Quality is your best choice... A small layer of enamel is removed with bleaching. Overdoing bleaching/whitening can produce permanent discoloration. Please see only a dentist for bleaching and refrain from the current trend of whitening in a spa or mall or beauty salon. Whitening teeth is best managed by an experienced dentist, for your dental & gum health and will best cheapest in the long run.

Over the counter, or: Lots of over the counter products can work. As compared to a professional option they are limited in their strength (concentration) and delivery (how long it takes and how well it is customized to your teeth). Or you can find a great dentist with a whitening for life program who will wait until your teeth are in optimum health (to prevent sensitivity), and then provide a complimentary solution.

Over The Counter: Over the counter bleaching works well. Crest whitestrips do a great job, however they are hard to place in the mouth and hard to keep in place.

OTC: Over the counter bleaching products found in retail store or through the internet can be less expensive.

Over the counter: Over the counter products have some limitations. First and foremost you want to make sure your teeth are healthy enough to whiten. This means no tooth decay or external plaque and surface stain that prevent the bleach from reaching the tooth surface. White strips have limitations of only covering front 6 teeth. Other over the counter products may not keep the product in direct tooth contact.

At home: The next best teeth whitening technique to in office bleaching is at home bleaching that is dispensed by your dentist . Your dentist will fabricate a special tray/stent you can place the material in and it is strong enough that you can get a good results. This technique is also safer than over the counter materials since your dentist can monitor the entire process to avoid any complications.

Whitening: I recommend to my patients crest whitestrips for an inexpensive whitening solution. They are available for about $50 for a 3 week supply.