3 Cheap Teeth Whitening Methods That Actually Work

The chances are great that if you’re reading this article, you’re looking for the easiest methods to whiten your teeth. It’s no secret as to just how important a bright smile is and I’m not going to waste your time explaining the reasoning behind it. You’re here and you want to know HOW to whiten your teeth, not WHY whitening your teeth is important.

I’ve been researching whitening methods for 2 years now and I’ve come across many different products and solutions which are sworn to whiten your teeth. Some of them work; some of them are completely bogus. Below I have listened 3 teeth whitening methods which DO produce positive results for your smile, all of which can be purchased for much less money than other methods out there.

1. Teeth Whitening Gel Strips

These strips are gaining more and more popularity due to how easy they are to use. To apply the gel strips you simply place them around your teeth like a piece of foil and the whitening agents do their work immediately. They’re much cheaper than using custom teeth whitening gel trays and they aren’t as intrusive in your mouth either.

They’re very cheap and produce positive results, but aren’t aimed at people with severe staining on their teeth. For more information on these teeth whitening strips, please check out the links below.

Recommended Teeth Whitening Gel Strips:

Teeth Whitening Strips Overview:

This method is for: people with mild discoloration in their teeth who want a quick and cheap method to whiten their teeth a few shades.

This method costs: much less than the alternatives. You can find boxes with 20 individual strips included for less than $40.

This method produces results in: as little as 3 days after use.

2. Teeth Whitening Gel Pens

The use of whitening pens is increasing every month, largely in part due to the ease of use. Convenience is a huge factor for people when choosing which whitening method they’re going to spend money on and simply applying whitening agent through a pen isn’t a hassle. You don’t have to wear mouth pieces or bleaching trays, there is no headgear involved, etc. You simply apply the applicant on your teeth as if you were painting and using your teeth as the canvas.

The following BriteSmile To Go Whitening Pens were the best reviewed pens I could find that don’t cost you a fortune to buy. Many of the online stores that sell these try and sign you up for a year’s worth of gel, but the following company allows you to buy a 3-month supply in the form of 3 pens ONCE.

BriteSmile is a reputable company with many positive reviews online. They also make whitening toothpaste as well, which as you’ll read below is a great investment as well.

Reccommended Teeth Whitening Gel Pens:

Teeth Whitening Gel Pens Overview:

This method is for: people who have darker than average shading, but want great results without strenuous involvement to get their teeth whiter. The actual application process takes less than 30 seconds and the formula dries immediately so you aren’t left with a weird feeling mouth.

This method costs: much less than other severe methods for darker than average discoloration. You can find 3-packs of whitening pens with 30-day supplies for under $40.

This method produces results in: as little as 3 days after use.

3. Teeth Whitening Gel Toothpastes

There are many different kinds of toothpastes on the market which are designed to whiten your teeth. They’re very popular because virtually everyone understands how to apply toothpaste because brushing ones teeth is a simple process.

Now you can whiten your teeth simply by swapping out your regular toothpaste with a special kind which is designed with more fluoride and other whitening agents to improve your whiteness factor.

Recommended Teeth Whitening Toothpastes:

Teeth Whitening Toothpaste Overview:

This method is for: people with minor yellow stains on their teeth, or those who want to maintain their current level of whiteness.

This method costs: less than virtually all other methods as it is mainly used as an addition to other whitening practices. You can buy tubes of whitening toothpaste for less than $10 through most online retailers.

This method produces results in: as little as a single use as reported by product reviews online.

Using Teeth Whitening Gels With Previous Dental Work?



If you want to achieve a bright, white smile, you should look into getting teeth whitening gels that work. It will make your teeth several shades lighter over the course of the procedure, which lasts from 1 – 4 weeks. The gel is placed in a custom fitting plastic tray with bleach, which is then applied to your teeth. The tray is well made and will stay secured. There are even custom-made trays to precisely fit your mouth in particular. The tray will ensure that the gel will stay on your teeth without leaking, maximizing both safety and effectiveness.

The gel has carbamide peroxide as the main ingredient. This will remove staining and discoloration that toothpaste can’t get rid of. It is safe to use if you are following basic instructions. During a standard whitening procedure, it will not do much harm to the tooth enamel, although you shouldn’t use it excessively. In any case, too much use leads to over-whitening, so you should only apply it as necessary to get a pearly white appearance. Lesser staining can be removed by weaker gel concentrations, while stronger varieties will remove the toughest stains.

At-home teeth whitening gel comes with different levels of peroxide content. This can be 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, or 35% at the most. This allows you to choose which level of chemical action is best for your particular dental situation. Those with teeth sensitivity issues may prefer lower concentrations, but this shouldn’t be too problematic in general. Higher concentrations are worn for 30 minutes to an hour, while low concentrations should be worn overnight. You may prefer one way or the other, which could influence your decision. In general, the gel is applied daily for a few weeks, and no longer than 1 month to achieve the desired effects.

One very pertinent question about whitening gel is whether it can be used with previous dental work. In most cases, previous dental work will not at all be an issue for gel whitening. In fact, metal fillings and porcelain work can have their proper color restored, as the whitening gel can remove stains from these surfaces too. Composite or resin fillings can also be cleaned by the bleaching agent. However, tooth amalgams present an issue with their mercury content. Although they are usually safe, they may have a reaction with the cleaning agent, so you should consult with a dental professional if you have amalgam.

One type of work you should avoid is braces. You should never whiten teeth with braces. They make it impossible to use the gel and tray properly. Even if you did, they would leave discolored squares on your teeth when they come off.

So in conclusion, braces are not workable, and you should be careful with amalgam. But most dental work will not present an issue for gel whitening.