It wasn’t that many years ago when the only way a person could have his or her teeth whitened was through a costly in-office whitening treatment by a dental professional. Today the situation is very different. In response to consumer demand fueled in part by society’s ever increasing obsession with looking and feeling better, there is now a growing supply of home teeth whitening kits and products on the market available to those who are looking for a more affordable alternative.

Due to their much lower cost when compared with professional treatment options, home teeth whitening products continue to grow in popularity. Ease of use and convenience are also factors in their popularity.

Teeth whitening strips, sprays, gels and toothpastes are among the most popular home whitening options available today. They all have limited effectiveness, however, and a better option is a home whitening kit, available over-the-counter at most pharmacies and supermarkets, or in prescription strength from your dentist.

Of the two, the home teeth whitening kit available in prescription strength produces better results than its over-the-counter counterpart, though it is a bit more expensive. The main difference lies in the concentration of the active whitening agent, which is usually some form of peroxide. The kit is provided by, and used under the supervision of, your dentist and usually comes with a set of mouth trays that you fill up with whitening compound.

The tray is then worn in your mouth, where the whitening agent will come into contact with your teeth. The length of time you need to wear the tray varies, but it can be as short as 60 minutes or as long as five hours. Treatments need to be repeated, usually over a two week time frame.

While the reduced cost makes this a popular choice for many who are looking for whiter teeth, there are some negative aspects to using a home teeth whitening kit. These include the time required per treatment, how many treatments are necessary, and the number of weeks that it takes to actually get results.

Safety is another concern among those considering trying home teeth whitening. This is because teeth whitening requires healthy teeth and gums before any treatment is begun, otherwise painful, and even permanent, damage may result to your teeth and gums. For this reason an examination and evaluation by your dentist is absolutely necessary before any home teeth whitening treatment is begun.

When you consider that professional, in-office whitening treatments can cost as much as $1000, such as in the case of laser whitening, and that a home whitening kit can be purchased for as little as twenty bucks, its no wonder that many choose the home option. In the end, the decision will usually center around basic economics and the question: What can I afford?