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It has to be said that the teeth whitening process is in general are not appropriate for everybody. It is always worth consulting your dentist before embarking on any course of treatment. You can get professional advice on which of the many options would be suitable for you. Some of them might not work on your teeth.

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? Are there simple instructions and if you follow them, are there any possible ill 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 what are the results, how fast and how long lasting? But there are still people who questions this.

Do unscrupulous manufacturers add more 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 you stick to properly licensed products you should be safe. The penalties for such practices, would be too costly to contemplate.

Quality manufactures do thorough tests before releasing their products to the public. 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 also damage their bottom line and their good name, to make claims that proved to be false.

These treatments normally require you to wear a tray over your teeth containing the gel, for not more than an hour. This is not too uncomfortable, but it is an inconvenient and you are not likely to do it for longer than you need to. Some of these products can be used overnight and companies boast of how long their gel stays active, compared to lesser competitors.

If you wear the device for longer than recommended, the gel will probably have become inactive. It is safe to say that these products are generally regarded as safe. The other question is, will you get the same results that you would get from a couple of dental visits.

Here again, it is very unwise for companies to make claims unsubstantiated claims. After all, if the product didn't work, there are millions of users who would be shouting about it. 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 as short as 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 can be just as long lasting. So, are they a viable alternative?

As I said at the beginning, it is always worth getting professional advice, but a home treatment is definitely worth thinking about. And of course, as well as over the counter products, your dentist can supply you with a personalised solution.