How much does teeth whitening cost?

Being able to have a pearly white smile is something most people want to achieve. There are numerous ways currently available to make your smile brighter and whiter. No matter your budget, there are options that will work for you. Let's look at options and costs for getting whiter smiles.

What Is Teeth Whitening?

Though we may want our smile to be snowy white, various factors cause it to become more yellow over time. When this occurs, people seek out whitening procedures to make their smiles look better. Whiter smiles can bring people more confidence and improve mental wellbeing.

What Causes Staining?

How do our smiles become yellow to begin with? There are a few key causes, such as:

Diet:  Coffee, tea, and wine contain stain-causing chemicals called tannins that can make smiles look yellow.

Smoking:  Nicotine in cigarettes can make our smiles discolored, as well as being bad for overall health.

Medications:  Some medications can make teeth grey, brown, or yellow in color as a side effect.

Bruxism:  Grinding can wear down tooth enamel and lead to staining and yellowing.

Aging:  Growing older can cause our smiles to look yellow over time.

Home And Professional Whitening Options

Whether you undergo professional whitening or do it at home, you have options. Here are some ways anyone can get a whiter smile.

1. Home Whitening Kits

There are whitening kits sold at supermarkets and drugstores. They are considered cheap and convenient, but may not be the safest or most effective choice. These kits use bleaching gel and trays, or strips that go over the teeth.

2. Take-Home Whitening Kits

Your dentist may be able to provide a whitening kit you can take home and do yourself. They will show you how to use it properly and it can possibly give more dramatic results than other kits. Usually, these dental kits contain peroxide gel and trays.

3. Professional In-Office Whitening

For people who want safe, fast whitening, in-office appointments are a good choice. They are more expensive than other options, but give fast results with little chance of side effects or problems. In-office whitening can be done using a high-strength peroxide or in some cases, dentists may even provide laser whitening. Laser whitening may be less damaging to the tooth enamel. If you choose professional whitening, your dentist will help you choose the best option for your needs.

How Much Does Whitening Cost?

Teeth whitening costs vary. Kits you may get from a store are usually between $20-100. If you are getting a professional-grade kit to take home from your dentist, that can cost $100-400. When considering in-office whitening, it may cost $300-1500 per appointment. The cost will vary based on the type of treatment and the number of sessions required.

Professional whitening may be more expensive, but can also be more effective and safer with fewer side effects overall.