While some people are blessed with bright, white teeth, most people aren't that lucky.
Teeth-whitening products have become increasingly popular, and depending on the condition of your teeth and your budget, there are several options available if you'd like to go a few shades brighter.
Most dental offices now offer professional teeth whitening.
Gentling Dental Care in Rochester, N.Y., sells professional strength Crest Whitestrips that are made with 15 percent peroxide compared to the 6.5 percent peroxide strips that can be bought over-the-counter.
Dental assistant Melissa Herrera said Gentling also offers an option where impressions of the teeth are taken and patients are fitted for a tray that can be filled with a carbamide peroxide solution.
"It's non-soluable and is active longer and penetrates deeper into the teeth than other products," Herrera said.
Herrera said teeth-whitening toothpastes probably are the least affective because they only polish away surface stains.
She said the in-office whitening lasts about six months and patients can take eight fills of the solution home with them. She said heavy smokers and coffee drinkers would need to have the procedure done more often.
The cost of the service is $225, but Herrera said the dentist offers specials during the Christmas season.
Herrera said side effects from teeth whitening can include sensitivity to cold, so she recommends people rinse with a fluoride treatment for sensitive teeth. According to the American Dental Association, not all people are good candidates for teeth whitening. Bleaching might not enhance your smile if you have had bonding or tooth-colored fillings placed on your front teeth. You may need to find an alternative to teeth whitening, such as porcelain veneers or dental bonding. Brighter by Light Calcagno Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry in Rochester offers teeth whitening, but the office's bleaching solution is activated by light. Dental assistant Vicki Carter said the procedures involves making impressions, putting a desensitizing agent on the teeth and using a liquid dam to keep the bleaching solution from getting on gum tissue. Carter said the light is turned on for 20 minutes, and the series can be repeated up to three times. "Afterwards, its important for people to stay away from coffee, tea, colas, grape juice -- anything that could stain your clothing -- for two days," Carter said. Patients are also given a tray and nine applications to use at home. Carter said some patients come in and have their teeth bleached every three months, but she cautions against doing it too often.
"Sometimes the teeth can almost become translucent and unnatural," Carter said. Bahama Tan offers another teeth-whitening concept: Bleaching your teeth while you tan. Bahama sells a product called Celebrity Hollywood Whites for $20. The product uses a peroxide gel that can be put on your teeth with a tray. Rays from the tanning bed speed up the whitening process. Bahama Tan attendant Tina Smith said she's never tried it, but the product has been popular with women ages 18-25. Refills of the product are also sold at the tanning facility. Cost-Saving Alternatives If you want something a little better than over-the-counter products but can't afford going to a dentist for the procedure, City Looks Salon and Spa also offers teeth-whitening services for $85 a session. Salon operations manager Jessica Curran said the salon's teeth-whitening system bleaches teeth three to five shades lighter. Customers are fitted for a mouth guard, then sit under a light that intensifies the solution for 20 minutes. "When we're done, they can take a look to see the results and decide if they want to come back for more sessions," Curran said. Curran recommends no more than five sessions. "A lot of people come in before weddings or other special occasion for a quick color change," she said.
