Professional teeth whitening is the only way to change the colour of your teeth. While brushing might help to remove some surface staining, only teeth whitening will penetrate deep into the tooth material, break the bonds between staining particles and then flush them out. To achieve this without an increase in sensitivity requires careful supervision from your dentist.
Teeth are not solid but porous like a sponge. This means they absorb stains from the food and drink we enjoy every day. Some items are more staining that others, such as tomatoes, red wine, tea, coffee, certain spices and fruit juices. Professional teeth whitening works by breaking down the staining particles and removing it from the tooth. When done correctly, this can be achieved without an increase in sensitivity.
Professional teeth whitening should always be supervised by a dentist in order to protect your gums and teeth. Teeth whitening uses very strong chemicals that could hurt your gums or lead to increased sensitivity if used incorrectly. The teeth whitening procedure starts by creating custom trays that will hold the whitening solution against your teeth. At Dale House Dental Practice, all our whitening products are at-home treatments.
We offer a range of teeth whitening options to suit your lifestyle. You could opt for daytime treatments that require whitening for a shorter period during the day. Or you could use the whitening solution at night time, wearing the whitening trays whilst you are sleeping. At-home whitening treatments will typically take 2-3 weeks to see the full effects. You can then top up your treatments as required. We will monitor the results to make sure that your teeth remain healthy and beautiful.
Teeth whitening is not a permanent solution as teeth will become stained again if you continue enjoying the same food and drink that stained your teeth. There are steps you can take to slow down the staining process. For example, you could drink through a straw to limit contact with your teeth. Alternatively, you could create a maintenance schedule for your teeth whitening treatments to help maintain a beautiful white smile.
No, teeth whitening treatment will only work on natural teeth. If you have a stained dental restoration, you will need to visit the dental hygienist to remove surface stains.
Teeth whitening is very safe when it is handled by trained professionals. There are risks to using teeth whitening solutions, but when you take the right precautions, it is a very safe and effective way to change the colour of your teeth.
