Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: Money/Health

Media Credit: MCT

In a society wrapped up in appearances, a gleaming set of pearly whites can be a valuable thing. For many college students, the prospect of whiter teeth bears the promise of a more attractive smile--and perhaps a few more date offers.

There are a couple ways to go about tooth whitening. Some rely on their toothpaste or whitening strips. Others go to the dentist for professional whitening. But which is the best choice?

According to Dr. Tom Breneman of Hillside Dental, 507 Main St., whitening toothpastes are typically more abrasive than dentists would prefer as they scour teeth to remove surface stains. He added that they're bleaching products, and don't come into contact with teeth long enough to do any good.

"It's a lot of marketing hype to a big degree," Breneman said. "You're better off using normal toothpaste."

Everyday eating will wear and tear on tooth enamel, thinning it microscopically; adding an abrasive toothpaste to that is like scrubbing your teeth with a piece of sandpaper, Breneman said.

"There's plenty of wear and tear on your teeth in life, you don't want to be adding to that two to three times a day when you brush your teeth."

Dr. Nathan Fleming of Eau Claire Family Dental, 1018 Regis Ct., agreed that whitening toothpastes can damage teeth, adding that they aren't very effective.

"The concentration of the bleach is so insignificant it doesn't do much; it doesn't give you the desired effect," Fleming said.

Freshman Nicole Michaels said she's been using whitening toothpaste for almost two years and hasn't seen a difference.

Over-the-counter products, such as whitening strips, are basically the same products used in the dentist's office, Breneman said. Both methods use a bleaching material, usually hydrogen peroxide. Oxygen in the bleaching material chemically penetrates tooth enamel and goes into the dentin, the inner tissue of the tooth, to remove the color pigment, Breneman said.

"Over-the-counter products aren't as strong as in-office materials," Breneman said. "It takes longer to get the same result."

Breneman warned that the strips won't lay flat on crooked teeth and won't work on dental treatments or fillings.

At Hillside Dental, tooth whitening is offered in the form of custom trays made from molds of the patient's mouth, Breneman said, adding that the patient then takes the trays and bleaching gel home, using them for 15 minutes a day for seven days. The cost of this procedure ranges from $250 to $270.

Continued...

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