Dental hygiene has been around for centuries.  Evidence of dental procedures found on mummies all over the world indicate that people have been concerned about taking care of their teeth for a long time.  However, as technology advances have increased, so have dental procedures.  The average person can now experience white teeth easier and cheaper than ever before. 

Tooth whitening, also called bleaching, is a process of lightening and removing stains from a tooth. This process bleaches the enamel and dentin, the principal mass of a tooth, and brightens the discolored teeth. There are pros and cons to bleaching your teeth though.  Here we will cover some of them for you.  The pros are that:
1.    There are so many methods out there that a teeth whitening method can be found to fit every budget and schedule.  No matter what, there is an option out there for you to help you achieve the brighter, whiter smile you want.  Methods range from inexpensive and convenient over the counter whitening strips to pricey dental whitening treatments.  Some of the other methods are dentist dispensed at-home products, laser tooth whitening methods, loaded tray teeth whitening methods and in-office whitening methods.  Spend a little time researching the different options and consult your dentist to find a method that fits your budget and lifestyle.
2.    Having white teeth can build your confidence in your smile which can reflect in other aspects of your life.  You will come across as more confident and self-assured.  In addition, whiter teeth can make you look younger, minimize the appearance of facial wrinkles and improve your overall appearance.  Teeth bleaching can move you out of the realm of average smile to spectacular smile.
3.    Bleaching teeth is considered the safest of all existing cosmetic procedures.  The common methods of peroxide-based teeth whitening cannot damage your teeth because they don't compromise the structure of the tooth itself. 
4.    Dental quality results can be experienced from your own home and are much cheaper than having a professional whitening done by a dentist.  Although surprising to some, whether using an at-home teeth whitening kit or having a whitening procedure done at the dentist office, you will generally end up with the same results.  The reason most people that choose to have their bleaching done at the dentist's office is simply because results are immediate.  At-home kits usually take a couple of weeks to get the results of one or two dental visits.
5.    Any side effects are temporary and treatable.  Although some people may experience side effects such as teeth sensitivity or gum irritation, these problems will remedy themselves within hours or days and treatment can be administered in the form of sensitive toothpaste in most cases.

Some of the cons that you may experience with teeth whitening include:
1.    Side effects can be experienced such as sensitivity and gum irritation as mentioned above.  When bleaching teeth, the chemicals pierce the enamel in order to bleach it.  This can lead to sensitive teeth but this experience should be only temporary and can be alleviated with sensitive toothpaste.  In most cases, gum irritation is caused by an ill-fitting mouth tray rather than the whitening formula itself, so adjusting the tray may remedy that problem.
2.    Bleaching your teeth is a temporary fix.  Generally, a teeth whitening will last for 6 months to a year.  Heavily pigmented foods such as soy sauce, most varieties of berries, and cherries will stain teeth.  Also, drinks such as coffee, colas and other dark soft drinks, teas and cranberry juice can also cause staining.  An expensive, professional whitening will last longer than a cheaper method such as whitening strips. Many people feel that whitening kits with a custom mouth tray are the most cost effective way to keep teeth white because once you have the tray made you can simply purchase more gel at any time.