After having orthodontic treatment in the form of braces my teeth were quite discoloured.
I visited to my dentist who had some whitening molds up for me and I now use a product called Opalescence, check out
http://www.smilox.com/ for info.
I use the 10% peroxide forumla and after using sparing amounts in the molds during a 5-10 day period (everyday) my teeth came out VERY white, enough for people to remark on them even after stopping treatment for 6-12 months.
There are various other options, this one I feel was the most cost effective as the gel refills are negligent in price. The initial consult to get the molds manufactured was AU$500 though, but they fit my teeth perfectly.
Your other options are the whitening strips which have varied success, in chair Zoom whitening treatment (immediate results but costs a lot of dough), take home kits like the one I've listed above or in the chair treatments that aren't Zoom.
Speak to your dentist about which is the best option, the things to keep in mind though no matter which product you use:
1. Some peoples teeth whiten easier than others, sometimes your teeth cannot be whitened no matter which treatment you use.
2. Whatever treatment you choose you will have to upkeep it every 3-6 months as your teeth will slowly discolour again, whitening is not permanent unless you get something horrible like porcelain veneers but who the hell wants fake teeth stuck on top of your real ones.
3. DO NOT over use the treatments. They damage the enamel on your teeth and can cause your gums to recede if you aren't careful with the application of the bleaching product (read: beware of chemical burns). It is imperative you back up any whitening treatment with regular dentist checkups so your teeth can be treated with fluoride and checked for any problems.
4. Surface stains can usually be removed with a scaling and clean from your dentist, the actual discolouration (ie. overall yellowing) of your teeth is what the whitening treatment normally helps.
5. Maintain excellent dental hygiene during any course of treatment and post treatment to ensure you keep your pearly whites healthy and clean for as long as possible.
6. Whitening treatment WILL make your teeth ultra sensitive (in fact painfully so) for the first few days of treatment and make them feel kind of numb thereafter, this stuff is not to be messed with. Do not become vainly encapsulated by your smile so much you end up treating your teeth too often or you'll just end up damaging them. You can treat the sensitivity with tooth moose.
7. No point spending $ on whitening your teeth if you: drink a lot of coffee or tea, smoke meth, cigarettes or marijuana, or drink a lot of artificially coloured drinks. Just don't bother, any treatment you have will just get ruined very quickly and you'll be constantly fighting and uphill battle. Better to spend the time cutting back your smoking and curbing that 12 coffee a day habit
