WHAT IS TOOTH WHITENING OR BLEACHING?

Tooth bleaching or whitening is a process by which the color of a stained or discolored tooth is changed to a lighter, more esthetic shade. Bleaching or whitening requires the use of a mild acid that dissolves or bleaches some of the substrate of the tooth from the tooth. Over-the- counter whitening or bleaching products are safe and effective but are somewhat limited in the amount of whitening they can achieve. They are much less expensive than dental administered bleaching. In our office, if your child is unhappy with the color of their teeth we will generally recommend the use of an over-the-counter product to see if that product can help your child achieve the lightness desired. If the over-the-counter product is not effective we can make custom bleaching trays for your child to use.