If cost is keeping you from having a great smile, maybe it's time you looked into affordable teeth whitening. Having your teeth professionally whitened is expensive, but by choosing the right at-home product, you could be flashing your pearly whites in no time.

Are at-home whiteners for you?

There are many affordable teeth whitening products on the market. Finding the one that works best for you is the key.

Keep in mind some things when choosing a whitener. Remember they only work on your natural teeth. This means at-home teeth whitening kits won't work on front teeth caps, crowns, veneers, or white fillings.

If you have "yellow" teeth as opposed to teeth that have a brown, bluish, or gray color, using these at-home kits will yield better results. Only teeth yellowed by tea, colas, and coffee respond well to at-home teeth whitening kits.

Types of at-home whiteners

There are two main types of teeth whitening kits you can use for at-home use -- strips and trays. Of the two, the strips performed best and were preferred by product testers. Tests show products with the trays didn't fit well and as an added problem the gel oozes out into your mouth.

Strips were preferred and did a better job at whitening. The best performing strip were the Crest Whitestrips Supreme but these must be purchased online or at a dentist's office. Crest Whitestrips that are easily found in stores scored well in their tooth whitening ability just not as well as the supreme.

If you're looking for an affordable way to brighten your smile, your best bet is to try those strips your dentist recommends or give those strips in the local store a try. A dazzling smile is just a few weeks away with quick and easy teeth whitening products!