In the growing world of cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening is a very sought after procedure. Generally valued by men and women both alike, whitening (or bleaching) treatments can be available to satisfy every budget, time frame and temperament.

Whether it is in the form of a one-hour bleaching session at your dentist’s office, or in home use bleaching kits purchased at your local Wal-Mart or drug store, teeth whitening solutions are very popular. However, only 15 percent of the population has tried the cosmetic procedure, and what is more, misinformation on the subject is everywhere. 

The whole idea of it is that teeth whitening does work. Virtually every person who opts to do this cosmetic treatment will see moderate to substantial improvement in the brightness and whiteness of his or her smile. However, teeth’s whitening is not a permanent solution and will require maintenance or touch-ups for a lasting effect.

Bleaching vs. Whitening, What is the Difference? 

According to the FDA, the term bleaching is permitted and to only be used when the teeth need to be whitened beyond their natural color. This will apply strictly to products that contain bleach, typically hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.

However, the term whitening, on the other hand, can refer to restoring a tooth’s surface color by removing all dirt and debris. Therefore, any product that will clean (like a toothpaste) would be considered a whitener. Of course, the term whitening sounds much better than bleaching, so it will be more frequently used even when describing products that do contain bleach.