Today there are many different ways to whiten your teeth.
They include whitening toothpastes, over the counter gels, rinses, strips and trays.
You also have the option of going to a dentist and have your teeth professionally whitened.
Any toothpaste will help remove surface stains because they contain mild abrasives.
There are some whitening toothpastes that have gentle polishing or chemical agents that will give added strength in removing stains.
Whitening toothpastes can lighten your teeth by about one shade.
In comparison, your dentist can make your teeth three to eight shades lighter.
Whitening gels are clear and peroxide based and are applied with a small brush directly to the surface of your teeth.
You generally apply them two times a day and results are seen in a few days and last a few months.
Whitening strips are very thin and are coated with a peroxide based whitening gel.
These strips are put on twice daily for around thirty minutes and typically have the same results as gels.
Whitening rinses are a newer product in the whitening genre of products.
They are very similar to regular mouth washes but also include whitening ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide.
Rinses are not known for their immediate results and often take up to three months to see results.
Generally the best results are from having your teeth whitened by your dentist.
While more expensive results are immediate and last longer then anything you can buy over the counter.
There are a few various ways a dentist can whiten your teeth for you.
You should always get a dentist to approve any whitening done to your teeth no matter which technique you choose to go with.