Bleaching versus Teeth Whitening
Understanding the Difference
As you age, your teeth can become darker due to changes in the structure of teeth as the enamel becomes less porous. This means bacteria, foodstuff and tobacco, even some antibiotic medications, can stain your teeth more easily.
For the past decade, an increasing number of products aimed at teeth whitening have become available. With such a wide selection of products and use of terms like teeth bleaching or teeting whitening, choosing what's right for you can be confusing. Let's start with understanding the difference between bleaching and whitening.
BLEACHING
Bleaching is a process that actually bleaches the tooth, meaning it changes the tooth's natural color. Bleaching agents contain peroxides that help to remove deep and surface stains.
TEETH WHITENING
Whitening is any process that aids in making teeth whiter. Thus, bleaching can be considered a form of teeth whitening. But, there are numerous non-bleaching teeth whitening agents that work by physical or chemical action to remove surface stains. Note that these products act on surface stains, not deep stains.
Which Teeth Whitening Process Is Right For You?
Over-the-counter products contain peroxide bleaching agents, typically 10 percent carbamide peroxide. The amount of active ingredient is low enough to be safe and effective for most people. Over-the-counter products are intended for use over 2 to 4 weeks, though results after using them may vary from positive to poor. 
Tooth sensitivity and occasional irritation of the gums are common side effects, particularly in the early stages.
Some toothpaste products claim they can whiten teeth. These products usually contain polishing or chemical agents that improves teeth appearance by removing surface stains through polishing or other non-bleaching action. These products vary in their effectiveness depending on how often you brush and your brushing technique. Thus, they can take a long time for results to become noticeable.
At Dr. Stacy Johnson's Family Dentistry in Greenwood, Indiana, teeth whitening is done with professional products that can give results typically within one hour. On occasion a patient may experience some temporary tooth sensitivity or irritation of the gums but it is usually minor. We use one of the best teeth whitening products available, Zoom!, for better, longer-lasting results. It is safe, effective and fast!
