You can easily whiten your teeth at home with various instant teeth-whitening products, such as toothpaste, gels, rinses, whitening trays, and light-guided whitening devices. If you don’t want to go the DIY route, you can choose to whiten your teeth professionally. Dentists use high-grade bleaches, custom-made whitening trays, or laser-guided light to treat stained teeth. Depending on your budget, you can choose from the following options.

1. Basic teeth whitening products
These products can be bought over-the-counter from supermarkets and pharmacies without a prescription.

• Toothpaste
  They are inexpensive but not very effective at removing strong stains. If you have mild stains, you can go for this product. A tube will cost you less than $10.
• Gels strips
  They contain bleach, which lightens the color of the teeth by a couple of shades. You should use these strips once a day for about two weeks. The results stay for four months, and the strips cost about $40.

2. Pre-loaded whitening trays
Whitening trays are made with a disposable, flexible material that can be molded over your teeth. They are pre-loaded with a peroxide-based solution. Sometimes, the solution is packed separately. You can fill the tray solution using a syringe. You have to use two trays every day, one for the top and one for the bottom set of teeth. You will not be able to eat while wearing them. Use them for four hours a day for two weeks. You can stop using them if you feel like the discoloration has disappeared. Pre-loaded whitening trays improve the color of your teeth by eight shades. Pre-loaded whitening trays cost about $300 and do not need a prescription.

3. Custom-made whitening trays
These are similar to pre-loaded whitening trays, ideal for those with irregular teeth and teeth alignment issues. A dentist will measure your teeth and order customized trays for a more comfortable fit. It would cost about $500.

4. In-office teeth whitening
You need to make an appointment for this. The dentist can complete the entire procedure in about 20 minutes. You will require three treatment methods for the perfect white teeth. The dentist will cover your teeth with medical-grade strong bleaching gel. This ensures that your teeth look much brighter for longer. You don’t have to worry about whitening your teeth for at least three years post this procedure. However, you do need to stay away from potential staining substances like tobacco and caffeine. The treatment will cost between $200 and $1000 based on where you stay.

5. Light-based whitening procedure
Doctors apply a whitening agent on the teeth and use UV light, halogen, or LED lights to activate the gel. The sitting will last for about 15 minutes, and a 45-minute treatment spread over a few weeks can help you get bright, white teeth. The cost of this procedure can vary depending on the type of light used, the location, and the dentist. That said, the minimum cost will be $500 and upward. A few side-effects of this procedure are short-term tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.

6. Laser-based whitening procedures
This one is similar to light-based whitening treatment, except laser beams are used to activate the bleaching agent. The procedure can cost between $500 and $1500 based on the location.