Your teeth look duller in photos than they used to, and whitening has started to cross your mind. We can look at your teeth and gums first and help you work out which option fits your mouth, your schedule and what you want to spend. This guide covers why teeth change colour, how in-clinic whitening compares with custom trays you use at home, and the cost questions worth asking before you book.
Start your first whitening with a dental check of your teeth and gums. That check shows us the condition of your mouth and lets us match the method to your time and your budget. In-clinic whitening suits you if you can book a time for your dentist to do it. Custom trays suit you if you are ready to keep the treatment going at home as instructed.
Both methods can cause tooth sensitivity. The result depends on the shade your teeth are now and on why they changed colour in the first place.
Plan for more than the whitening fee alone. Ask clearly whether the price you are quoted already includes the check-up, preparing your mouth and the follow-up before you book.
First, find out why your teeth changed colour
Stains from tea, coffee or cigarettes sit on the surface of the tooth. Colour that has changed inside the tooth is a different matter, and the two are not always looked after in the same way. A clean and a stain polish can reduce surface stains. Whitening uses a bleaching agent to change the colour of natural teeth, so the feeling that your teeth look yellow is not enough on its own to choose by.
If you already have decay, inflamed gums or sensitivity, have your dentist look at the cause and treat it before you start whitening. Tell us if a single tooth has darkened, or if a tooth has taken a knock in the past. Those teeth may need to be looked at differently from whitening a whole row.
Fillings, crowns and veneers do not whiten along with natural teeth. If you have restorations on your front teeth, talk to us about the colour you are expecting and plan the order of treatment first. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, put cosmetic whitening off until later. If you are under 18, talk to a dentist before you use any whitening product.
In-clinic whitening or custom trays at home?
| What to weigh up | How the two methods differ | What to do about it |
|---|---|---|
| Who does it | In the clinic, your dentist does the whitening and protects your gums while it is happening. At home, you put in the gel and wear the trays yourself as instructed, after a check-up and trays made to fit you. | Ask about in-clinic whitening if you would rather someone else carried out the steps. Ask about custom trays if you will be doing it yourself. |
| Timing | You book a time at the clinic, and it can often be done in one visit, but we check first. Trays run over days to weeks, depending on the product and the plan you are given. | Have us check before you count on a single visit, and ask how long your own plan is likely to run. |
| How it fits your week | In-clinic whitening fits you if you can make time to come in. Trays fit you if you are happy to wear them and look after the kit at home as planned. | Pick the one you can realistically keep to, and tell us at your check-up which fits your week. |
| Limits on both sides | Sensitivity or gum irritation can happen either way, and no shade can be promised in advance. | Stick to the gel and the wear time you are given. If anything stings or hurts while it is being done, say so straight away. If symptoms start at home, pause the whitening and contact the clinic looking after your treatment before you carry on. |
Custom trays from your dentist are a different thing from an off-the-shelf whitening kit. If you already own a product, bring the name or the label so we can talk it through before you use it. Do not add more gel, wear the trays for longer or use them more often to get whiter faster. If you have a photo shoot or an important event coming up, tell us at your check-up appointment so the timing can be planned around it.
What to budget, and what the price covers
Our published whitening rates, checked on 8 October 2026, give you a starting point for your budget.
| Item | Published whitening rate |
|---|---|
| Cool Light whitening system | 5,000 baht |
| Philips Zoom whitening system | 12,000 baht |
| Custom trays for home use | Ask for the current price and what the kit includes before you book |
These figures are an estimate for the whitening itself. They are not a total for everyone, and they are not a confirmation of a promotional price on the day of your appointment. A different system name and a different price do not tell you which method suits you better. Confirm with the clinic which product is used, what is included and what your own plan looks like.
Ask what the price includes
Before you pay, ask clearly whether the price covers the check-up, the service fee, cleaning your mouth before whitening and the follow-up. If you choose trays for home, ask about upper and lower trays, how much gel you get, how to get advice if symptoms start, and what extra gel costs. These are things to ask about, and it does not mean every package includes them.
If a check finds decay or a gum problem, you may need treatment, and a cost for it, before whitening. Ask the clinic to separate the cost of necessary treatment from the whitening fee. It makes the budget easier to see and the decision easier to make.
Before you book, and the questions we hear most
- Sensitive or painful teeth? → have the cause checked first
- Can you make time for a visit? → ask about in-clinic whitening
- Ready for regular use at home? → ask about custom whitening trays
- Before you book → confirm what the total price includes
At your check-up, tell us about anything you are allergic to, whether a substance or a product. Tell us as well about any sensitivity you get, any fillings or crowns you already have, and any whitening products you have used before. That is what your dentist needs to judge whether whitening suits you.
Does the first whitening hurt?
You may feel tooth sensitivity or gum irritation, even with a dentist looking after you. If anything stings or hurts while it is being done, say so straight away. If symptoms start while you are using trays at home, pause the whitening and contact the clinic looking after your treatment before you carry on. That matters most when the symptoms are getting worse or are making it hard to eat and drink.
When should you book a check instead of whitening?
Book a check if a toothache lasts more than two days, it hurts to bite, you have a fever, or your cheek or jaw is swollen. Those signs need the cause found, and waiting until your whitening date is not the way to do it. If toothache comes with swelling around your eye or neck, or swelling that makes it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, go to an emergency room straight away.
Will one session keep my teeth white for good?
No. Whitening does not last permanently, and no one can tell you in advance how white your teeth will go. The shade you start with, the reason your teeth changed colour and your daily habits all feed into the result. If you want to whiten again, have your dentist check your teeth first, and do not take someone else’s schedule as your own.
Planning your first whitening? Message us on LINE @evercaredental or call 085-991-5159 to book a check at Evercare Dental, Sindhorn Building, G Floor, Wireless Road. At that visit we look at your teeth and gums, go through what the cost covers and plan the timing with you. Tell us about any sensitivity you already have and the times that suit you.
Related articles
References
- NHS — Teeth whitening
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy — Teeth Whitening
- American Dental Association — Whitening
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy — Sensitive Teeth
- NHS — Toothache
- Evercare Dental — Services and treatment rates — prices checked 8 October 2026
- Evercare Dental — Teeth whitening service — items and prices checked 8 October 2026
- Evercare Dental — Contact and appointments
- Master of Science in Prosthodontics, Chulalongkorn University
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (Second-Class Honours), Chulalongkorn University
(This article is general information. It is not a substitute for an examination or individual advice from a dentist. Results and costs depend on each person's own check-up.)
