Tooth Whitening

Tooth whitening can be a highly effective way of lightening the natural colour of your teeth without removing any of the tooth surface.

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Reasons for needing tooth whitening

Everyone is different. Just as our hair and skin colour vary, so do our teeth. Very few people have brilliant white teeth, and our teeth can also become darker as we get older.

Your teeth can also be stained on the surface by food and drinks such as tea, coffee, and red wine. Smoking also stains teeth. Calculus or tartar can also affect the colour of the teeth. By regular cleaning and hygiene visits teeth can be made to look cleaner and gums kept healthier.

Professional Bleaching

This is the most common form of tooth whitening. A gel is used to bleach the enamel surface of the teeth using a custom fabricated soft plastic tray (like a gum shield).

The active ingredient/ component in the product is usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. The tray is often worn whilst sleeping and removed in the morning.

The total treatment can usually be completed within four weeks. Impressions are taken at the first appointment to construct the plastic trays.

Laser Whitening (or power whitening)  

During this procedure a rubber dam is put over the teeth to protect the gums, and a bleaching product is painted onto the teeth. Then a light or laser is shone on to the teeth to activate the chemical. The light speeds up the chemical reaction of the whitening product and the colour change can be achieved more quickly using this procedure (usually taking about one hour).

The effects of tooth whitening can last up to three years. However, this will vary from person to person. The effect is less likely to last as long if you smoke or drink products that can stain teeth.

Safety  

Some people may find that their teeth become sensitive to cold during or after treatment. Others report discomfort in their gums, a sore throat or white patches on the gum line. These symptoms are usually temporary and disappear within a few days of the treatment finishing. Power whitening seems to cause more sensitivity than professional bleaching. If any of these side effects continue you should visit the surgery to discuss them.

Home Kits  

Home kits are cheaper, but over the counter kits sold in the UK are not generally very effective. They only contain a small concentration of hydrogen peroxide (the whitening product). The legal limit in the UK is 0.1% of hydrogen peroxide and effective bleaching products need to have about 3.6%. Therefore home kits will not be able to lighten your teeth noticeably. Also, some contain mild acids and others are abrasive. This can cause damage if not used properly.

Whitening Toothpaste

There are several whitening toothpastes on the market. Although they do not affect the natural colour of your teeth, they may be effective at removing staining and therefore may improve the overall appearance of your teeth. Whitening toothpaste may also help the effect of bleaching treatments last longer.

Limitations

Tooth whitening can only lighten your existing tooth colour. Also it only works on natural tooth tissues. It will not work on any types of 'false' teeth such as dentures, crowns, veneers or fillings.

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