Lächelnde Frau mit lockigem Haar und strahlend weißen Zähnen in Nahaufnahme.

Whiten Teeth: The Best Methods for a Radiant Smile

How can I whiten my teeth quickly?

The fastest and most noticeable results are usually achieved with professional bleaching at the dentist. For home use, whitening strips, whitening pens, or bleaching gels can provide visible lightening within a few days to weeks. Whitening toothpastes, on the other hand, primarily remove surface stains and do not permanently whiten the natural tooth color.

How much does teeth whitening cost?

The costs depend on the chosen method. Professional bleaching at the dentist usually costs between 300 and 800 euros, depending on the procedure and extent. Products for home use, such as whitening strips or bleaching gels, are available from around 20 to 100 euros.

How do I whiten my teeth without bleaching?

Even without bleaching, you can reduce superficial discoloration. Thorough oral hygiene, regular professional dental cleanings, and whitening toothpastes can help teeth appear cleaner and brighter. Avoiding or consuming in moderation highly staining foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, or red wine can also help prevent new discoloration.

When should you not whiten your teeth?

You should refrain from teeth whitening if you have untreated tooth decay, inflamed gums, or other oral diseases. It is also often recommended to only undergo bleaching after consulting a dentist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have very sensitive teeth. Before any teeth whitening procedure, your oral health should be checked to rule out potential risks.

6 min read July 1, 2026

A radiant smile is often the most beautiful accessory. White teeth make a smile look even more beautiful and wonderfully well-groomed. In this blog post, you'll learn more about the causes of discolored teeth and the best methods to whiten them!

Why Do Teeth Get Discolored?

Most people do not have naturally sparkling white teeth, and natural tooth color can vary in different shades. Your natural tooth color is usually genetically determined, but it can change and darken due to external factors.

But Why and How Do Teeth Get Discolored?

Age: Tooth enamel thins with age, allowing the yellowish dentin to show through more easily, making the teeth appear yellower overall.
Nicotine: Smoking is one of the biggest factors in tooth discoloration, causing yellowish to brownish stains.
Poor oral hygiene: Poor or insufficient brushing can promote plaque and tartar buildup, making teeth appear yellower.
Staining beverages like coffee, tea, red wine: If you drink these beverages daily, they can also contribute to darkening your teeth.
Acidic beverages like energy drinks or cola: These attack tooth enamel, causing the yellowish dentin to show through.
Frequent vomiting: In illnesses or eating disorders involving frequent vomiting, stomach acid can cause teeth to become more yellowish.
Malnutrition: Permanently discolored teeth can also be a sign that your body is not getting enough vitamins and minerals. To rule this out, it's worth getting a comprehensive blood test from your doctor.
Liver and blood diseases: Darker teeth can also be an indication of liver or blood disease – however, this can only be diagnosed by a doctor.
Injured teeth: If there is something wrong with your teeth or the tooth root is not healthy, they can also become discolored. However, this usually only affects individual teeth.

Whitening Teeth: What Options Are Available?

Professional Bleaching

Firstly, there is professional bleaching, which you can have done at dental practices. It is often also called office bleaching and is applied to all teeth if you want to lighten your natural tooth color or reduce external discolorations. A professional dental cleaning is recommended before bleaching to thoroughly clean the teeth first. Then, a special bleaching gel is applied to the teeth, which acts for 15 minutes under UV light and is then rinsed off.

This professional treatment at the dentist lasts 6 to 24 months.

In internal bleaching at the dental practice, usually only individual teeth are treated that have discolored due to an accident, root canal treatment, or dying off. For this, the bleaching agent is applied inside the tooth and must act for several days.

Professional bleaching costs between 400 and 800 euros – dentists usually charge 30 to 70 euros per tooth. For exact costs, it's best to inquire at dental practices near you. Since it is a cosmetic treatment, statutory health insurance companies do not cover the costs of teeth whitening.

Smiling woman with an even complexion and white teeth in front of a pink background in close-up.

Bleaching at Home

You can also easily use bleaching at home - there is now a wide variety of whitening and bleaching products available in drugstores. Drugstore products are significantly cheaper than professional treatments, but they also contain lower-dose whitening agents.

Whitening products are significantly gentler than bleaching and gently remove discolorations without chemical bleaches. They work slower and are much gentler on tooth enamel. On the other hand, bleaching is usually much faster and therefore achieves faster results than whitening. However, bleaching can damage tooth enamel if not applied correctly.

You can find tooth trays with gel, strips, as well as pens that can whiten teeth in no time. However, one of the gentlest methods is whitening toothpaste, which gradually whitens teeth during regular brushing.

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Home Remedies for Teeth Whitening – Sensible or Myth?

Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate are a well-known remedy for whitening teeth with an inexpensive home remedy. They do rub off deposits, but are very harmful to tooth enamel.
Lemon juice is also considered an effective home bleaching agent, but here too it can be very dangerous for tooth enamel, so many dentists advise against this method.
Oil pulling is a well-known Ayurveda method for oral hygiene – it is said to reduce bacteria and protect against cavities and bad breath. At the same time, it is also said to have a whitening effect. To do this, rinse your mouth with a small amount of oil (starting with a teaspoon, then a tablespoon) like coconut oil for 15 minutes in the morning before brushing your teeth. Then dispose of the oil in the trash, as it can otherwise clog pipes.
Turmeric can also produce whitening effects. To do this, chew a piece of the root for a few minutes or put a small amount of the powder on your toothbrush and brush your teeth with it. Afterwards, be sure to brush normally with toothpaste.

How Long Does Bleaching Last?

Professional bleaching lasts between six and 24 months – depending on lifestyle and discoloration. For home use products, the results are significantly shorter-lived (a few weeks), so it is more worthwhile to bleach or whiten regularly to maintain the effect.

Are Teeth Whitening Products Harmful?

Chemical bleaching can lead to sensitive teeth and stress the tooth enamel. Especially in the first few days after bleaching, teeth are particularly sensitive to cold. It is worth asking your trusted dentist beforehand whether a bleaching treatment is advisable.

If you use products at home, you should definitely make sure to follow the application instructions carefully.

How to Keep Your Teeth White Longer

Brush your teeth regularly: Regular oral hygiene is the be-all and end-all for beautiful and white teeth. This includes not only brushing your teeth, but also regularly using dental floss and mouthwash.
Don't smoke: If you want to keep your teeth permanently white, you should definitely avoid smoking.
Drink with a straw: A straw with coffee or tea can help prevent new discoloration.