There are many ways to whiten teeth. You can start with the over-the-counter whiteners. I’m talking about things like Crest White-strips. They work…a little. They’re inexpensive, so why not try them?

CAUTION: All whitening products are peroxide based. Peroxides are “oxidizing” agents. Many of us take “anti-oxidants like vitamin E and Omega-3 fish oils. Why would we expose ourselves to all this “oxidizing” peroxide whiteners? As in many things, in moderation, you’re safe. Just don’t overuse it. If it hasn’t worked in 10 days to 2 weeks, forget about it. Move on.

CAUTION: Whitening does have a temporary effect on the tooth. It affects the outer layer of enamel. That layer remineralizes within 2 weeks after you stop using the whitening. So…you need to stop whitening for 2 weeks before dental procedures that require “bonding”, like tooth-colored restorations. Also, if you don’t give the tooth 2 weeks to recover, there could be permanent enamel loss. People who use whitening too frequently can actually get their teeth to become “translucent” or “opalescent.”

SO, if you’ve tried the drug store whiteners and they haven’t done the trick what else can you do?

You can ask us. We offer 3 types of whitening.

For those who need it done immediately, these’s LASER WHITENING. We use a new FDA approved laser that makes the process go quicker than ever. Within an Hour you have whiter teeth.

How white? There’s no way of predicting for sure. It depends on what you’ve eaten, drunk or smoked over your life as well as the thickness and makeup of your enamel. Everyone’s different. LASERS will get your teeth their whitest and do it faster that the other “light activated” systems.

Aren’t Lasers expensive? You bet they are! That’s why Laser whitening is more expensive that the alternatives.

What are the alternatives?

For years, before the lights and Lasers, the only way to effectively whiten teeth was to have a custom tray made up and apply a gel in the tray at home. Today, the materials are better, there’s less sensitivity and the time has been cut down to ½ - 1 hour a day of tray-wear. It’s still a great option and is much less expensive than the Laser system. It just takes time.

There’s also a modified non-custom tray system. It works better and is easier to use than the “strips.” It’s the least expensive dental office-dispensed system there is.

CAUTION: Crowns and fillings will not whiten. If you have fillings and/or crowns or veneers, you need to be careful. A thorough cosmetic analysis should be done before attempting any whitening.

If you’d like to know if whitening is right for you, call 212-928-1000 or email us at info@ManhattanDentalHealth.com