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 feelgood boost of a great smile. But are home whitening treatments as good as your dentist could do? And what about safety?

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.

Visit the websites of some of these companies and you will be able to read details of thorough clinical trials of the various aspects of these products. Tests have been carried out to prove both the safety and effectiveness of the active ingredients.

Any claims made must be backed up by scientific evidence. If you feel inclined, you can even read copies of the original documentation. Falsification of this evidence would be too great a risk to contemplate.

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.