Dealing With Shades Of Tooth Whitening

When dealing with teeth whitening, there are hundreds of options out there to choose from. One of the most common sales pitches you will receive to try a new tooth whitening product is the promise of coming out the other end “one shade whiter” or “two shades lighter.” However, it is important to understand what this really means.

The thing to remember is this: there is no standard “chart” that all the tooth whitening companies use. Opinions vary greatly on shade, and most of the time two different products will give you two entirely different results. This is why it is always recommended to speak with your dentist before engaging in a tooth whitening regiment.

In medical science, most things are easily quantifiable. Heart rate, blood pressure and body fat can be measured by one person and expressed exactly to another. Such is not the case with teeth whitening. Every company that designs products aimed at getting whiter teeth has their own chart and their own formula to arrive at what they think is just the right shade in the end.

Usually these charts will be enough for you to judge what the final outcome will look like. There are some general terms that have become standardized as well even though the charts have not. These terms reference the hue and darkness of current discoloration such as gray, red-gray, red-yellow, and red-brown. Once you determine the most appropriate match to your mouth, it is usually easier to determine what the end result will look like.

So even if you’ve been “burned” by tooth whitening products in previous whitening attempts. Don’t despair and give up on the commercial tooth-whitening market. It really has come a long way in the past few years and the array of products available now is a testament to that. Ask around and see what people have been having good results with and then see if they have a free trial. Your teeth will thank you!