Bleaching vs. whitening: what's the difference?
Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2010
As a general rule of thumb, the term "bleaching" applies to at-home and in-office procedures that brighten the color of your teeth beyond their natural starting point by using a bleaching agent like hydrogen peroxide.
"Whitening," on the other hand, though used loosely by manufacturers, refers to restoring a tooth's enamel to its original color by removing plaque and stains with at-home, over-the-counter toothpastes and mouthwashes.
Of all the bleaching treatments available, in-office procedures offer the fastest results because of their higher-strength bleaching agent. The legal limit for over-the-counter treatments, like whitening strips, is 6% hydrogen peroxide, which is ideal for keeping your smile white once you've reached your ideal shade through professional means.
Tags: bleaching, enamel, hydrogen peroxide, plaque, stains, treatment, whitening
- Dr. Ronald E. Goldstein
- Cosmetic Dentist
Dr. Ronald Goldstein, co-founder and past president of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry and author of two books on cosmetic dentistry, was one of the first dentists to use composite resin, and he created many of the esthetic techniques for direct bonding to change the shape or color of teeth. A fellow of the American and International College of Dentists, he was also one of the first to use an all-ceramic (porcelain) margin, eliminating a dark shadow at the gum line. The team of dentists at Goldstein, Garber & Salama are recognized for their individual disciplines, lecturing globally, teaching other dentists and authoring texts on the integration of their respective aspects of esthetic dentistry.
Visit Dr. Goldstein's NewBeauty profile.