To Sum

You have three options for whitening your teeth: a mild whitening toothpaste that is inexpensive and will whiten mildly; an over-the-counter whitener that if used consistently for two weeks can effect a nice white glow; a visit to the dentist for a once or twice treatment aided by laser and light or a dentist produced mouthguard with more concentrated bleaching gel than the over-the-counter product.

The outcome depends on your dental health. If you have a mouthful of fillings and crowns or gum erosion, the whitening will not be effective.