Best Teeth Whitening Kits in 2019 – A Full Guide
Hello, Beth here from theHealthBase team with another fully comprehensive guide on a matter that is very much at the fore in the health and beauty industry – this matter being the topic of teeth whitening.
There has been an exponential rise in products related to this niche over the past number years, with numerous brands aiming to take advantage as the popular feeling reaches its zenith.
In this guide, I will address and discuss all the important material that pertains to this topic. This will include all the top methods; an in depth look at the actual process and how it works; the key benefits; some notable warnings; and which brands supply the best at home teeth whitening kits.
OK, so that’s the gist of what this piece is about. Before I begin, please note that you can skip ahead to any specific part of my guide by clicking on the relevant link supplied in the table of contents below. Let’s jump straight in, shall we 
What this Method Entails
Believe it or not, but the act of teeth brightening is not a new trend. A lot of people believe that it’s something that has just recently been adopted by modern societies.
Well, a lot of people are wrong 🙂
Though, it does make sense that people would believe this. After all, the top brands and professional services use the latest technology in their products so it’s not surprising that many people think it’s a modern health and beauty invention.
However, as is the case with pretty much everything in the world today, tooth bleaching can be traced back to the Ancient Civilizations that used to rule this world. There is evidence that the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians all experimented with different methods of enhancing the color of their teeth.
For example, it’s established that the Romans, the guys who took over the vast majority of the planet, used to mix goat’s milk and human urine in an attempt to achieve a lighter tone. Pretty disgusting, unbelievably unsanitary, and quite probably lacking in terms of results, but it does go to prove how far back this health and beauty technique goes.
In terms of what exactly this is process is, it’s quite simple. By using natural or man-made agents, or a combination of both, stains and discolorations can be removed from your teeth. These unwanted blemishes cover the natural, white color that is meant to seen.
In addition, this method is then designed to boost the whiteness to whatever level you would prefer. By achieving these two steps, it is then very possible to return our smiles to their brilliant best.
Whitening & Bleaching - the Difference
Technically speaking, these two processes are actually classed as being different in nature. To clarify, take a look at how the FDA differentiate between the two:
“Teeth whitening is any method or technique that causes the restoration of a tooth’s natural color, while bleaching pertains to a process that whitens the teeth beyond their natural color.”
So, in other words, whitening revolves around removing stains and discolorations on the teeth’s surface with the aim of returning them to their natural shade. Bleaching takes this process to the next level by actively turning the shade of color even whiter. This will of course also remove any stains.
I’ve taken the time to make this distinction clear because many of the top brands pay no heed to this difference – they use the terms “whitening”, “lightening”, “brightening”, and “bleaching” interchangeably, all which means the process of making a person’s teeth as white as they want.
The only time where the difference between whitening and bleaching comes into question is if you were visiting a dental clinic. In such a setting the former would mean cleansing your teeth, while the latter would mean turning the shade of color an unnatural tone.
For the purpose of this guide, I’ll follow these brand’s lead, sod so you can take it that all the above terms mean the same thing. This is so you can get used to the terminology when it comes time to purchasing your own treatment method.
Now let’s next look a little closer at our teeth and how exactly they reach the point where they need to be treated.
What is a Tooth?
The structure of our tooth is more complex than perhaps you might believe. As is the case with the human body, there is so much more going on beneath the surface than the eye can perceive.
The visible part of a tooth is known as the outer layer or, more commonly, the enamel. The enamel is the key part when it comes to whitening. Underneath this outer layer lies the dentin and then the pulp. The pulp is where the blood and nutrients can be found and also where waste is removed.
But, for now, let’s focus on the enamel. As time passes, the enamel on any given tooth can start to change in color. This can happen for a variety of reasons – dietary habits; poor oral hygiene; aging; hormonal changes; excessive caffeine; smoking; excessive brushing; elemental factors; et cetera et cetera.
The bottom line is that your teeth will start to lose their white glow and discoloration will start to appear. Now, for the most part this isn’t a health concern, but it is something that most people aren’t fond of. Understandably so.
Generally, people want to have bright, healthy looking teeth so that they can beam a smile at people. There are a multitude of reasons for this, below I’ve outlined some of the better ones.
The Reasons Behind the Popularity
Possessing a beautiful, white smile is something that we all want. This desire therefore inevitably leads to a rise in methods and techniques that can help.
In this section, I am going to go through some of the reasons where this popularity stems from. There are actually quite a few of these reasons, varying from simply aesthetics to key oral health issues.
As I researched this area and waded through all the online sources, I noticed that the same few benefits and positive aspects came cropping up. Whether it be from clinical studies, the promotional material supplied by the top brands, or customer testimonials and reviews, it was universally agreed that teeth whitening resulted in the following occurrences:
1 – Attractiveness
OK, let’s get the obvious one out of the way! You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize that the better your smile is, the more attention you will receive from the opposite sex.
Don’t believe me? Have a think about it. I bet it won’t take you long to remember a guy or gal who caught your eye because of their beaming smile.
It’s OK to admit it 😉
Having such a smile is massively beneficial for a whole host of social reasons. Whether it be on a date, at a wedding, or at some other social function, if you have a healthy, sparkling smile then I guarantee you’ll attract more positive attention than negative. It’s human nature to be drawn to something that is pleasing on the eye!
This will then inevitably lead to your…
2 – Confidence Being Boosted
If you know that you possess a charming smile, then it cannot help but make you feel better about yourself. This is only logical.
I know that this is true from personal experience. In my twenties, I used to be quite self-conscious about my teeth. I used to be a coffee addict and my drink of choice was red wine – two things that are guaranteed to stain teeth.
It got to the point where I’d reflexively raise a hand to my mouth if I was about to smile. As you can imagine, this was an incredibly insecure and unhealthy way to be! A smile should be the exact of this – it should be a thing of confidence and happiness.
This all changed when I got my teeth lightened. I instantly felt so much more confident in my smile. This alone was enough of a reason to take the steps to brighten my smile.
3 – Oral Health
When it comes to irritating pain, there’s very little that beats a tooth ache, or issues in your gums. It can be maddening. Having poor oral hygiene is a sure fire way of one or both of these problems occurring.
While bleaching your teeth will not guarantee that you have a healthy mouth, it certainly will make you more conscious about your oral region.
It’s like buying a new pair of shoes – you’ll do your absolute best to keep them looking as new for as long as possible!!
The same thing can be said for when you get your teeth cleaned or lightened. You’ll be aware of how good your teeth look and feel and therefore you will no doubt take more care in cleaning and maintaining them. This will then lead to good oral hygiene.
4 – Mental Health
This one is a bit abstract but it’s still worth noting. It goes back to the whole idea that if you possess a healthy, glowing smile then you’ll feel more confident and generally better about yourself.
This will result in you having a positive outlook on life, something that is absolutely vital for mental health.
Now, of course, I’m not saying that a good smile is the key to a happy life, that would be bizarre!! But it certainly can contribute to your overall self-image which is indeed an important factor of being happy.
5 – Helps with Relationships
I’m sure that you’re well aware of the idea that smiles are contagious. This is something that is very true. It’s quite difficult being around someone who is smiling and not have it effect you in a positive way.
We all know that person who constantly has a smile on their lips, a smile that is beaming in appearance. These kind of people are those who we all want to be around. Why? Well, it’s simple, smiles are an expression of joy and positivity. Therefore, it’s only natural that people are attracted to an easy-to-smile individual.
Another great thing about smiles is that they boost trustfulness! A person who is quick to smile often causes people around them to relax and to trust them. This is the phenomenon that is known as “charm”
6 – Increased Professionalism
This is one that not many people might think of, but it actually makes a lot of sense.
It ties back in with the previously mentioned idea that a great smile will boost confidence, boost attractiveness, and make you more likable and trustworthy.
Think about it, if you walk into an interview and begin the process with a solid handshake and a great smile, then you’re onto a winner from the get go!
Of course, it won’t guarantee that you get the job, but it will certainly help your chances.
Just like a dazzling smile can cause you to be attracted to someone, it can also make you stick in someone’s mind. Someone such as a potential new employer for example. Subconsciously, that’s why they will remember you. After all, every little bit helps
7 – Removal of Stains
There are a whole host of different stain types that can ruin our smiles. Three of the worst culprits are caffeine, red wine, and smoking. Unfortunately, I’m a bit of a sucker for two of these!!
I often rely on caffeine to get me through the day, just as I often love a glass of red wine every now and again to unwind! Now, there’s not wrong with these two vices as long as they are enjoyed in moderation.
However, even when consumed in moderation, caffeine, red wine, and smoking can badly stain our teeth, leaving yellow or brown marks. This is obviously not what anybody wants and thus many people turn to proven solutions in order to remove any stains.
Fortunately, with modern techniques, such stains can indeed be removed quite easily.
8 – Removal of White Spots
White spots on teeth is quite a common occurrence, both in children and adults. The technical term for this is dental fluorosis.
There are many reasons why this might occur, including a calcium build up; braces; poor oral hygiene; eating acidic/sugary food; or even brushing too hard. (1)
Whatever the underlying problem may be, brightening your teeth in an overall sense will result in the white spots fading into non-existence.
Important Note: it’s key that you understand that teeth bleaching is not a one cure fix all kind of deal. There are certain issues of the oral area that will not be cured by this method. I’ve given a list below of such things.
If you think that you have any of these then the best bet is to make an appointment with your dentist.
Top Dental Life Hacks
In addition to the lightening methods and top tips that I’ll cover in the guide, there are also a few handy life hacks that you can add into your daily routine. These hacks won’t suddenly give you that perfect smile that you want, but, as they say, every little helps!
The majority of these hacks revolve around applying common sense, but there are also a few I’ll mention that people in general don’t consider. Hopefully there will be a hack or two that will improve your own dental well-being.
Let’s jump straight in!
Hack #1 – Change Up Your Toothbrush Regularly
This beginning hack is something that is very logical and obvious but is also one that goes under the radar somewhat. Many people do not change their toothbrushes on a regular basis, and only do so as a kind of an after-thought. I’m also guilty of doing this so don’t feel do bad!!
The reason for being conscious about upgrading your toothbrush is pretty straightforward. A toothbrushes sole job is to clean undesirable elements from your mouth. It’s essentially a cleaning implement which means that it will get dirty and damaged after continuous use.
There are some clear signs that you brush needs to be replaced ASAP. They are:
In addition to the above visual cues, it’s a good idea to change your toothbrush every six months regardless. Remember, this tool is used to clean your mouth on a daily basis so it’s important that the tool itself is clean and workable.
Hack #2 – Don’t Just Brush Your Teeth...Hit the Tongue as well!
This is a hack that not only do the majority of people don’t do or understand, they also laugh at the very idea of it!
This is an understandable reaction though there is actually a good reason why brushing your tongue can be beneficial for your oral health.
A person’s mouth is home to various types of bacteria which feeds off the food that you consume. While you may chew and swallow food, there will always be bits and pieces that remain in your mouth.
The aforementioned bacteria, which dwells on the tongue, can then dine on this residue food. This can then lead to this bacteria growing in volume which can result in stains occurring as your tongue comes in contact with your teeth. Not good.
So, to avoid this problematic build up, why not give your tongue a quick up and down to finish off your brushing session! It’ll take all of five seconds
Hack #3 – Using Whitening Toothpaste
If you are hell bent on boosting the color of your teeth, then such a product as this could be well worth adding to whatever whitening method you’ve chosen to go for.
I’ll admit, these toothpastes can be a bit gimmicky – they won’t have a major effect on lightening the tone of your teeth, but they could supply you that extra little oomph as long as you’re also using a top quality treatment.
There are two things to look out for if you’re thinking of buying these special toothpastes:
Ultimately, such toothpastes won’t have a dramatic impact on the color of your teeth. However, they can indeed prevent stains from getting worse.
Warning Note: There has been reports that over using such toothpastes can lead to a stripping of tooth enamel so keep this mind. Perhaps it’s best to use such products in a cyclical manner, taking breaks often.
Hack #4 – Eating Raw Foods
Consuming raw foods such as vegetables, fruits, and nuts are a brilliantly natural way of cleaning your teeth. The trick is in the rawness and the crunchy texture that is present in some foods.
Crunchy, raw food works to cleanse your teeth of things that have stuck to them over time. This is just another reason why you should be eating healthy!!
Hack #5 – Using Mouth Wash
A top-quality mouth wash has many benefits when it comes to maintaining and improving upon your oral hygiene. Below are the key ones:
Hack #6 – Rinse, Rinse, Rinse!
Quickly rinsing your mouth after a meal is a great way of removing some of the stuff that can build up on our teeth. Such residue will then lead to stains, plaque, or tartar if not removed.
This is especially important if you have consumed something that is exceptionally acidic in nature. Fruits, sweets, juices, or fizzy drinks are the main culprits in this as they are packed full of sugary elements. (3)
Such acidic foods can actively damage your teeth. Giving your mouth a quick rinse is a great way of stalling this damage until you can have a good brush.
Important Note: All of these dental hacks can be effective in their own way, but it’s vital to understand that they should be viewed as additions to a quality treatment and not as a full treatment option in their own right.
Delivery Styles – the Different Options
When it comes to the delivery styles there are actually quite a number of different methods available. Because of the popularity of teeth lightening in recent times, there has been an industry wide clamor for new and improved options.
This is the case with every hot health and beauty product or treatment – the top brands pump money and effort into creating an option that will see them skyrocket to the top of the market. (4) For us consumers, this is all good as can be seen below via a simple yet spot on equation:
More brands interested = more competition = better products and services
Now, for the sake of applying some organization and structure to all the brightening products and treatment options that are around today, I’ve decided to split them into four broad groups – the top over the counter options; professional dentist services; DIY options; and at home treatment kits.
Each of these four have their own varying options as well, as you will soon see. Let’s jump straight in. Up first it the…
Over the Counter
(Average Cost: $100 – $150+)
This particular option revolves around products that you can buy in chemists - products that you do not need a prescription for. This option can be further broken up into two separate categories: Brightening Dentifrices and Bleaching Agents - click on the relevant tans below for more.