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Most people whiten their tooth for cosmetic reasons, especially if required by their profession. Tooth whitening is the most popular cosmetic procedure in USA and millions of  people whiten their teeth every year. Tooth whitening can be done either at the dentist's office, at home using products prescribed by the dentist or using home remedies. Toothpastes that whiten the teeth are also available, but their efficiency is not proven.

Most tooth whitening products bleach the teeth and make them a shade whiter. However, tooth whitening is not effective in all cases, so it is advisable to consult a dentist before deciding on a treatment. Brownish teeth may not bleach as well as yellow teeth. If dental veneers, fillings or implants are used, their colour will not change, and they will seem different from the whitened teeth.

Tooth whitening can be done at the dentists office over multiple sittings of  less than an hour each. A rubber shield or protective gel is used to protect the soft tissues of the mouth and the gums. The bleaching agent is applied to the teeth and special lights or laser may be used to enhance the action of  the bleaching agent.

For tooth whitening done at home, a gel which contains carbamide peroxide is used. The bleaching gel is placed in a mouth guard which may be prepared by the dentist. The time for which the mouth guard is to be worn varies from an hour every night for several weeks to more than 8 hours every night.  These bleaching gels may make the teeth sensitive and cause irritation, but the problem usually reduces after some time.

Toothpastes contain mild abrasives which help them remove stains on the teeth. The whitening toothpastes contain stronger chemicals or abrasives compared to normal toothpastes and can damage the enamel of the teeth.