In everyday use there is no difference: teeth whitening and bleaching describe the same treatment, in which discoloured natural teeth are visibly lightened.
Patients, dental practices and manufacturers use both terms interchangeably. “Whitening” is the more common word in everyday language, while “bleaching” appears more often in a clinical context. “Tooth bleaching” and “professional whitening” refer to the same procedure.
In strict professional terminology, a distinction is sometimes drawn – most notably in the United States, where the American Dental Association defines bleaching as lightening teeth beyond their natural shade using peroxide-based products, and whitening as restoring the natural shade by removing surface stains, which also covers whitening toothpastes. Under that narrower definition, peroxide-based professional treatments such as the fläsh systems are bleaching.
The choice of term says nothing about the quality, effectiveness or safety of a treatment. Four other factors determine the outcome:
fläsh mainly uses the term teeth whitening because it describes the treatment plainly and is easy for patients to understand: the existing natural tooth shade is lightened.
“Bleaching” is equally correct and familiar to many people from advertising, social media or their dental practice. We therefore use both terms without drawing an artificial distinction between them.
Professional teeth whitening means whitening that is examined, selected and supervised by a dental
practice – as opposed to over-the-counter products from a pharmacy, drugstore or online retailer. Before
treatment, the teeth are examined by a dentist. Only then is it decided which treatment suits the individual
dental situation and the desired result.
Supervision by a dental practice is not optional: in the EU, teeth whitening products containing more than 0.1%
hydrogen peroxide may only be supplied to dentists. Products available for general sale fall below this
threshold and lighten accordingly less.
Teeth whitening with the fläsh Light Whitening System takes around one hour and is carried out in three to
four 15-minute applications – entirely at the dental practice. The fläsh Whitening Gel and the fläsh Whitening
Lamp are matched to one another. Depending on the starting situation, the whole visible tooth area can be
lightened or a single tooth treated specifically.
Yes, the fläsh Light Whitening System allows targeted single-tooth whitening. The fläsh Whitening Lamp has a dedicated mode for this. Whether external whitening is suitable in a specific case depends on the cause of the discolouration and is assessed by a dentist beforehand.
Yes, whitening can be worthwhile in both cases – the sequence is what matters. Crowns, bridges, veneers and implant-supported restorations keep their shade permanently. If the teeth are whitened first, the restoration can then be matched to the new, lighter tooth shade. Once orthodontic treatment is complete, whitening is a common final step in the overall treatment.
Take-home whitening is teeth whitening carried out at home, prepared and supervised by the dental practice – as opposed to treatment that takes place entirely at the practice. With the fläsh Take Home Whitening System, patients receive custom-made whitening trays and the matching whitening gel. It is used according to the dental practice’s instructions and can continue a treatment carried out at the practice, enhance the result achieved, or refresh the tooth shade at a later stage.
Cosmetic teeth whitening is only permitted from the age of 18 in the EU: products containing more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide may not be used on persons under 18. For medical devices with a medical intended purpose, the requirements set out in the respective intended purpose and instructions for use apply.
In everyday use, teeth whitening and bleaching mean the same thing. What determines the result is not the choice of words, but the whitening system used and proper supervision by the dental practice.
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