For several years now it seems that at-home kits for teeth whitening have become more and more ubiquitous. There are a lot of teeth whitening kits out there, so it’s important to be careful about which one you choose to use. More importantly, you should be informed about why exactly you’re using them. Do your research and learn about what you’re going to be putting into your mouth before you do it. Is it safe? Is it effective? How and why does it work? Don’t be distracted by fancy names or promises that aren’t founded in solid science.

The most important factor in choosing a whitening product is understanding what the product’s active ingredient is. In other words, what’s actually going to make your teeth whiter? There is a significant difference between bleaching and true “whitening”. The process of whitening actually involves cleaning the teeth to restore them to their natural brightness. Chances are, if you’re buying an at-home kit you’re not buying a whitener, you’re buying a bleaching system. The most common, effective at-home system for actual whitening is something you probably do every morning: Brushing your teeth.

Bleaching is exactly what it sounds like. It is the application of a chemical agent, usually some form of diluted peroxide, to temporarily remove colors from a surface. It’s not really dangerous, but bleach is not harmless just because it happens to come in the form of a mint-flavored jelly. Bleach is bleach. If it gets on your hair or skin, it will temporarily alter the pigmentation of the area. If you swallow enough of it, it can make you sick. Be wary of active ingredients with marketing-friendly names like “Smile Shine Paste” or some other silly term meant to distract you from what you’re actually getting.

It’s an all-too-common concession consumers make for the sake of price and convenience. Sure, bleaching agents will give you a whiter smile for a short period of time if you use them in a regimented system. They will not, however, clean your teeth except for with the incidental anti-bacterial nature of bleach. Teeth stain for a reason and covering up that stain cosmetically is like putting makeup on a bruise. It’s far prettier, but the problem persists underneath.

Teeth whitening (bleaching) kits are often advertised and sold on the Internet. Be wary of these because, like so many other things online, they can be fronts for scams. A lot of companies offer free trials that get your credit card number by charging for shipping and handling. When the trial ends, the account retains a recurring charge for the full price of the product and it will continue to charge you until you call the company and cancel your account. Some scams are designed to ignore or delay requests for cancellation and then fail to refund any superfluous charges.

For a healthy smile, the same rules always apply. Brush and floss daily. Don’t consume an excess of products with caffeine or carbonation. Don’t overdo it with sweets. Get a checkup with your dentist just like you get checkups with your general practitioner.