In these tough times, home teeth whitening could save you some money, which we all need to do. But there are other issues to consider.

You still want the confidence boost of a gleaming smile. But are home whitening methods safe, and are they as effective as a professional treatment?

The concern about effectiveness comes from the fact that the concentration of bleaching agents used in the home treatments is generally lower than in a treatment by a dentist. On the other hand, there is the worry that companies may use higher concentrations than they claim, in order to make their products effective.

Do these concerns hold water. I think not. Just stick to properly licensed companies. They are bound by strict controls and the possible damage to their reputation, as well as heavy financial penalties would be unthinkable.

Added to which which, there are already millions of users of these treatments and there would certainly of been a public outcry if there were any safety issues or if many people were not happy with the outcome.

Some companies provide details on their websites of the clinical trials they have carried out. The products themselves and their active ingredients have been tested for effectiveness and for safety.

They would have to be able to back up any claims made with solid evidence. You may even find links to the original source material. Again, to attempt to falsify these results could be potentially disastrous.

Home teeth whitening treatments can be just as effective and long lasting as a treatment by your dentist. They should also be perfectly safe. Just buy from reputable companies and following the directions.