Teeth whitening is a procedure to lighten the color of your teeth and remove stains. You can have it done at a dentist’s office, or do it yourself at home. Tooth whitening is most often done using peroxide-based bleaching agents. At-home systems contain from 3% to 20% peroxide (carbamide or hydrogen peroxides). In-office systems contain from 15% to 43% peroxide.

Other factors that may determine the best teeth whitening method for you include:

• Your dental health. You’ll need treatment for issues like gum disease or cavities before you whiten your teeth. 
• The natural color of your teeth and how white you want then to be. Whitening can only lighten your teeth so far. Veneers or crowns might be the only way for you to get truly white teeth.   
• What previous dental treatments you’ve had. Whitening won’t work on bonding, tooth-colored fillings, crowns, or implants and could even damage them.