The Difference Between Teeth Bleaching And Teeth Whitening

Is there a difference between teeth bleaching and teeth whitening? If yes, does the difference go beyond their names?  Which procedure would prove more beneficial to you?  Which is more costly? These are some common queries that a layperson would have when weighing the pros and cons of teeth bleaching and teeth whitening.

To understand the difference between teeth bleaching and teeth whitening, it is important to understand what each of these terminologies mean.  Even though sometimes both these terms are used interchangeably, they are as different as chalk and cheese.  True, they both aim at making the teeth white, but they vary in various aspects such as the procedure, the duration they last, the time they takes to brighten and whiten the teeth, their cost and their effect on the teeth.

Teeth Whitening:  The main aim of teeth whitening is to restore the natural whiteness of teeth.  Teeth which have, over the years, lost their whiteness and luster are brought back to their natural state of whiteness through this procedure.

Teeth Bleaching:  Teeth bleaching goes a step further.  Teeth are given an artificial whiteness beyond their natural whiteness.
What would work best for you?  Generally, people tend to prefer teeth whitening over teeth bleaching.  The reasons will be explained in detail in this article.  It is often seen that teeth bleaching is the preferred choice among those in the entertainment industry.  They make the teeth look whiter and brighter than teeth whitening agents – something which is required by those in this industry.

The difference between teeth bleaching and teeth whitening – duration and cost.

Teeth whitening is a relatively cheap affair.  Teeth whitening products are available over the counter for a fairly reasonable price.  They take a long time to act, but the results are for a longer period of time.On the other hand, teeth bleaching needs to be done by a cosmetologist and the results do not last for long.  In order to preserve the pearly whiteness, it is essential that one visits the cosmetologist regularly.  This, of course, will be a costly affair.

The difference between teeth bleaching and teeth whitening – products used and their effect on teeth.

Teeth whitening agents contain silica and/or calcium carbonate.  These components are relatively harmless and do not cause any significant damage to teeth.  Once applied on the teeth, they gently lift away the dirt and with the help of saliva, leave the teeth naturally white.

Teeth bleaching agents contain carbamide peroxide.  On application, this carbamide peroxide reacts with saliva and turns to hydrogen peroxide.  It is this hydrogen peroxide that forms a whiter-than-white coating over the teeth.  This leaves the teeth prone to irritation.  Sensitive teeth are not a candidate for this procedure.

Make sure to weigh the pros and cons of both these procedures before deciding on any one of them.  Take into account your requirements, time constraints (if any) and your budget.  Also, remember that the most important factor that you need to take into consideration, though, is the condition of your teeth before adopting any of these treatments.