Teeth whitening is a powerful magnet that draws in a barrage of curious thoughts and opinions. We are often asked - how white is too white?The answer is that it's truly down to preference. Sometimes a patient's preference may be to desire the whitest teeth of all, and so the ultimate question of tooth whitening advocates appears. 
How White Can Teeth Whitening Make YourTeeth?
It is not easy to answer this question as each one of you will be subject to your own set of boundaries when it comes to the potential whiteness of your teeth. There are several factors involved. Some can be controlled, some not.
Factors you can control:
Method of whitening
A laser tooth whitening procedure, often referred to as 'in chair' treatment, is the quickest way to whiten your teeth. You will see results very quickly and those results can be dramatic. On the other hand, you may go for a home whitening option. Although this is called a 'home whitening' you do still need to visit your local dentist who offers teeth whitening. Your dentist will create a mould of your teeth. This is called a tray. You can then add your whitening solution at home and wear the tray for a set period of time each day over about two weeks. The more time you spend wearing the tray, the whiter you teeth will become (up to a point).
Concentration of whitening solution
How white can teeth whitening make your teeth? Well what is the concentration of your whitening solution? If you acquire your whitening solution from an unreliable source such as some beauty salons or hairdressers then you will likely see much worse results than if you had visited your local dentist for the procedure. Those unreliable sources often dilute the solution to make it stretch further and lower the costs. Sure you may get it slightly cheaper on the whole but you will not see the results that you want and will ultimately be disappointed. You also risk your health when obtaining such treatments from unregulated establishments.
Factors You Can't Control:
Your natural tooth colour
In the majority of cases your teeth will become slightly more opaque however if a tooth is naturally quite translucent in aesthetic appearance then the effect of a whitening solution may cause it to become even more translucent meaning that the teeth may not seem to whiten very much at all. As a solution to this issue you may be able to have some special white composite placed on the back of the teeth to improve the overall whiteness shining through.
Responsiveness of your teeth to the whitening solution
It is a fact that all teeth do not reach the same level of whiteness. It does not matter which method of whitening you use or the concentration of the whitening solution - there will be a limit to how white your teeth can get and this will differ between individuals due to genetics. During treatment the whitening solution will work its way through the enamel on the outside of your tooth. It then moves through the middle layer (dentin) and within 15 minutes the peroxide will have made it's way to the innermost layer or 'pulp'. On it's journey, the peroxide will alter the genetic colour of the dentin and the enamel as well as removing stains on the teeth. Some people will respond more dramatically than others.
How Can I Make the Most Out of my Whitening?
How white can teeth whitening make your teeth is often the first question asked about teeth whitening. The second is usually focused on how long they will stay white for. After getting your teeth whitened the most significant factor in the duration that your whiter teeth will stay white is your diet (and lifestyle). In a perfect world, you would eliminate all foods and drinks that can stain your teeth. These include; coffee, tea, red wine, dark fizzy drinks and more. You would also be a non-smoker. For some, these changes may be too drastic and this is understandable. Nonetheless, if you are focused on keeping your teeth white post-treatment then at least following these lifestyle changes to some extent will help with your goal.
Our Verdict
So how white can teeth whitening make your teeth? It is important to focus on those attributes that you can control. Ultimately, if you are someone who is not genetically in favour of teeth whitening then the best you can do is to keep your diet and lifestyle in check. This will ensure that even if your potential whiteness level is not as high as you would have liked you will get as close to it as possible. As with any cosmetic treatment you need to first understand the appearance that you truly want. We find that most patients are happiest at the point where their teeth look naturally white. This means that they are white but not to the extent where other may suspect they have had their teeth whitened. Luckily, most people will be able to reach this level.