There are several different ways that teeth can be whitened. There are products that are available overthe- counter at pharmacies and supermarkets for home whitening. WhiteStrips are very thin sheets of plastic that have the peroxide on them. You mold the plastic to your teeth and leave it on for thirty minutes twice a day. Night Effects and similar products are a paint on gel containing peroxide. You apply it to your teeth at bedtime and it works while you sleep. These products are actually pretty effective.

The peroxide whitening compound is similar to the solution dentists use, however, it is not as strong. There are Professional Strength WhiteStrips available at many dental offices for their patients. These have a stronger peroxide compound and contain more strips than the product sold over-the-counter.

Products like WhiteStrips and paint-on whitening gels are good if you want to brighten your smile and make the enamel a little whiter. Because the peroxide solution isn't very strong, it probably won't help severely stained or discolored teeth. These products are certainly cheaper than professional whitening systems, but professional systems are usually much more effective. You should always check with your dentist before using any tooth whitening product. Next week, we'll talk about the professional whitening systems. Presented in the interest of promoting a better dental health environment from the office of" Frank Soltiz, DDS 13367 Broadway Alden, New York 14004 937-7812