You are thinking about whitening your teeth, but are reluctant for specific reasons. You were concerned, perhaps, about the cost. Or you were concerned about the safety of whitening your teeth. If it's good enough for Vanna White, it should be good enough for you! Right?

Infomercials, together with Vanna White, can be very convincing. However, you should base your decision on the following: First, find a mirror. Look at yourself and smile. Do you feel self-conscious when you smile or do you avoid smiling to hide aspects of your smile you don’t like? Look at photographs of yourself. Ask someone who will be frank with you about the color of your teeth (don’t ask your mother!). Finally, ask yourself how often you wish you had lighter colored teeth. If this thought crosses your mind once a week or more, you should consider whitening your teeth.

Our teeth yellow as we age. Coffee, tea, soy sauce, cigarettes etc. will hasten this process. Many of you parents have noticed that when the adult teeth appear in your children, they seem more yellow than the remaining primary teeth. Human teeth are inherently yellow from the start, and only get worse with time. Before you decide which way to whiten your teeth, you should know the following: You should whiten your teeth prior to having any visible tooth-colored fillings or porcelain crowns replaced. The whitening process will not lighten these restorations. Wait at least two weeks following the whitening process to assure the shade has stabilized before beginning any esthetic dental work.

Perhaps the most important component of the home teeth whitening process is tray construction and design. A well-constructed tray has specially designed reservoirs incorporated into its design which hold larger volumes of whitening gel. In addition, the tray must have an optimum thickness allowing it to stick to the teeth much like a soft contact lens does to the eye. The tray may only cover the teeth and should not allow the whitening gel to come into contact with the gums. Many of the systems available over the counter, via infomercials and drugstores, (sorry Vanna!) contain a one size fits all tray that the purchaser must adapt to their teeth themselves. This is not recommended, as it brings the whitening gel into contact with the gums, producing a harmful reaction with the body. The properly designed tray is a mandatory prerequisite to safe and effective whitening of one's teeth and can only be properly furnished by the dental professional.

Possible side effects include increased sensitivity to cold during the treatment, tongue and lip soreness, and possible sore throat irritation. These side effects most always resolve in one to three days after completion or interruption of treatment. And lastly, the whitening gel must have a pH of between 6.5 and 7.0.

It’s feasible to have whiter teeth in seven to twenty-one days, but how much does it all cost? Prices vary substantially. However, whitening one’s teeth has recently become more affordable. Expect to pay $450 to $650 for full-mouth bleaching.

You now possess the information to make an educated decision with respect to whitening your teeth. Just remember: When deciding to change your appearance in a way like bleaching your teeth, don’t make the cosmetic improvement to satisfy what someone else thinks you should look like. DO IT FOR YOU!!