The first thing to say is that teeth whitening procedures are not equally effective for everybody. It is always worth consulting your dentist before embarking on any course of treatment. From the available options, your dentist will be able to clarify which ones are suitable for you. Some of them may be of no practical benefit in your particular situation.

The dilemma that people face is the perceived added safety of having a procedure carried out professionally by a dentist, against the possible major cost saving of a home treatment. Will the home teeth whitening product be safe and will it be as effective to use? Is it easy to follow the instructions and if you do, are there any possible side effects? What are the pros and cons?

In order to provide a safe, over the counter products for home use, the whitening gel is of a lower concentration than you would get from a professional treatment. The question is how good are the results, how fast and how long do they last? But there are still people who questions this.

Do devious manufacturers use higher concentrations of the bleaching agent than they admit to, so that their product will work? It is even suggested that abrasive materials are added that can potentially damage the surface of the teeth. I think that both of these theories can be disregarded. As long as buy properly licensed products you should have no problems. The penalties for such practices, from major fines and lawsuits, to withdrawal of the product license, would be too costly to contemplate.

Reputable companies do major trials before putting their products onto the market. A little research on their websites will lead you to the results of these trials, and if you want to be ultra cautious, you can follow the links back to the original source documents. It would similarly impact their bottom line and their good name, to make unsubstantiated claims.

Most of these methods involve wearing a tray over your teeth containing the gel, for periods of thirty to sixty minutes. This is not too uncomfortable, but it is an inconvenient and you are not likely to do it for longer than you need to. There are some products that are intended for overnight use and the makers boast of how long their gel remains active, compared to their rivals.

Wearing the device for too long will probably just mean that the gel has become inactive. It is safe to say that these products are generally regarded as safe. The other question is, are they as effective as a couple of visits to the dentist.

Once again, it is very hard for companies to make claims that they cannot back up. After all, if these products didn't produce results, millions of users who would be shouting it from the rooftops. So how good are the results, how quick and how long do they last?After two apointments at your dentist, you can go home with a new, radiant smile. And with the right aftercare, it can last for as long as 15 years, but it could be closer to 5.

Some of the home teeth gel treatments claim a noticeable difference after only one hour and that with repeated treatments that you can reach the same levels on the dental comparison charts that you would get from professional whitening. And they could be just as lasting. So, are they a viable alternative?

At the start, I said that it is always worth getting a professional opinion, but a home teeth whitening is a viable option. And remember, there are over the counter products, and your dentist can provide a custom solution.