Are you embarrassed to smile because your teeth are stained and discolored? Would you like whiter teeth? If you’re like most people, the answer is yes.

To achieve that goal, more and more people today are willing to spend their hard earned money on the latest teeth whitening methods. For many, a brilliant smile is just one treatment away.

Let’s face it, most of us are not fortunate enough to keep our teeth white as we age, especially since staining and discoloration are a natural part of the aging process. The good news is that there are a multitude of effective teeth whitening methods to choose from today that have been proven to work.

Why do our teeth tend to become discolored over time? One reason has to do with what we eat and drink. Do you drink a lot of coffee? How about soda? Tea? Red wine? Do you smoke? All these will hasten the discoloration of our teeth as we get older.

It’s not only the surface of our teeth that can become stained. The dentin beneath a tooth’s surface can become discolored as well. This happens when fine cracks in the surface enamel of a tooth exposes the dentin to substances that cause staining. Additionally, there are some antibiotics that, if taken during the formation of the teeth, can cause discoloration underneath the surface as well.

One popular method of teeth whitening today is tray bleaching. We will look at this method and how it works in the rest of this article.

In this procedure, a special tray is fitted to the shape of your mouth. The whitening chemical is placed inside the tray and then the tray is placed inside your mouth in order to apply the whitening agent to your teeth.

In most cases the bleaching agent contains peroxide – either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. These substances release oxygen as they break down inside your mouth. The oxygen penetrates the enamel of your teeth, making them whiter and brighter.

The teeth bleaching procedure usually takes three to four weeks to complete. During your first appointment with the dentist he will take an impression of your mouth in order to create a tray that is customized to the shape of your mouth. Then, after treatment has begun, you will need to continue it daily at home for up to four weeks, with each application of the whitening compound lasting about 30 minutes.

Teeth bleaching is one popular teeth whitening option. Your dentist will be able to help you decide if it is the right choice for you.