Seven Things You May Not Know About Teeth Whitening

Some interesting facts about one of the most popular treatments at Alexandra Dental Care

An increasing number of people these days, are looking to have whiter teeth. Whilst this may have once been little but a dream, the wide accessibility and affordability of a teeth whitening procedure means that it is now well within the range of a lot of people. This is reflected in the number of people booking appointments for it at our Burton and Ashby dental clinic.

Although there is now a wider understanding of what the treatment entails, there are still probably a lot of people who are unaware of certain aspects of teeth whitening, both with regards to the treatment, and in a broader sense. In today’s blog, we are going to take a look at a few of these.

It is a repeatable treatment

We occasionally hear that some people have been put off having their teeth whitened because they believe there is little point in spending money when the effects of the treatment will wear off. Although this is true, the whiteness can last for a long time and the treatment can be repeated safely as often as you want, enabling you to maintain the teeth whiteness for as long as you wish.

Whitening toothpastes are generally ineffective

If you have been putting your hopes on whitening your teeth through commercial teeth whitening toothpastes, you are probably going to be dissapointed. These toothpastes contain only a small fraction of the whitening ingredient that dentists are allowed to use. You should expect to notice very little improvement if you use this method.

Only dentists can perform this treatment

There used to be quite a few high street boutiques that offered this treatment. Unfortunately, many staff were not trained how to do this correctly and in a number of cases, severe damage was done to the patient’s teeth. It is now law that this treatment can only be carried out in a dental clinic by a suitably qualified dentist or supervised dental professional. If you do find a high street boutique that offers this, they are not only risking people’s health but also likely breaking the law and should be reported.

Whitening doesn’t affect crowns etc

If you have crowns or tooth coloured fillings, these will not be lightened in colour with our teeth whitening procedure. If you have these restorations and are unhappy with the general colour of your teeth, we recommend that you arrange a consultation with one of our cosmetic dentists to discuss the most appropriate action to take.

You can choose the level of whiteness

You don’t have to have brilliantly shiny and dazzling teeth like many celebrities choose. The whitening procedure can be adjusted to the level that you want. While some of our Burton and Ashby patients may wish to go for the ‘full on’ effect, others may prefer a more subtle degree of improvement in the colour. This will form part of the discussion at your initial consultation with us.

The procedure treats more than surface staining

Many people believe that tooth discolouration comes from surface staining of the teeth, often from what we eat and drink. While this can often be the case, it is not the only cause. The inner part of the tooth (the dentin) also starts to darken as we get older. This will eventually start to show through the translucent enamel causing them to appear dull and discoloured. A teeth whitening procedure will also lighten this area, helping to bring the whiteness back to your teeth.

Few people feel discomfort from this procedure

Teeth whitening is perfectly safe for the vast majority of patients (we will discuss any medical issues before the treatment starts). It is also a non-invasive treatment and therefore very few people experience any significant discomfort from it. In a small number of cases though, patients may experience a heightened sensitivity which may cause some minor discomfort. This should not cause concern and any discomfort will fade quite quickly.

We are sure that some of you will have other questions about this treatment and may wish to discuss them with us. We are always happy to help and if you are considering having your teeth whitened, why not arrange to have an initial consultation with one of our cosmetic dental team? You can arrange this by calling Alexandra Dental Care on 01283 216347.

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