WHITENING VS. BLEACHING: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

The teeth whitening system works with a combination of led light and specially formulated gels. The blue led light dehydrates teeth, opening microscopic tubules (tiny pores) in the enamel. Over time you will develop an eye for enamel types.

The procedure for lightening teeth may be called tooth whitening or tooth bleaching. According to the FDA, “whitening” means restoring a tooth’s surface by removing stains. Any product that cleans (e.g., toothpaste) is considered a whitener. The FDA allows the term “bleaching” to be used only when the teeth can be whitened beyond their natural color. The term whitening is more commonly used because whitening sounds better than bleaching, even when describing procedures and products that contain bleach.

The causes of tooth stains or discolorations are varied. The whitening/bleaching techniques are selected based on the extent of the colors and bruises, the types of materials used to whiten the teeth, procedures used to whiten the teeth, and certain precautions to be experienced during operations.