One of the most common concerns we hear from patients is that their teeth have lost some of their natural whiteness and are not as bright as they used to be. Our teeth change as we age, and one of the most visible signs is the colour and brightness. This can make some people feel self-conscious about their smile and can affect confidence. As a result, more people are choosing tooth whitening as a fast and effective way to achieve a younger, brighter smile.
How does whitening work?
Many common foods and drinks stain the teeth with tea, coffee and red wine among the worst offenders. Lifestyle choices, such as smoking can also dramatically affect the colour of teeth. The active ingredients in our whitening gels work by penetrating the teeth to break down discoloured molecules, removing stains and brightening the teeth from the inside out.
Before beginning a course of whitening, we will carry out an assessment of the teeth and mouth and assess any existing dental work to make sure your newly whitened teeth will blend. We then take an impression of your teeth. This will be used to create a customised tray that will fit neatly over your teeth, to hold the whitening gel in place.
The trays should be worn for a minimum of four hours per day (depending on the concentration of the gel). We find that many of our patients use them overnight and let the solution work as they sleep. A course of treatment usually takes between 2 and 6 weeks . Following a course of treatment we normally advise our patients to keep their whitening trays in case they want to top up the treatment at a later date.
Is it right for everyone?
Tooth whitening is probably the easiest, safest and most effective way to improve your smile. It is suitable for most people with healthy teeth and gums but we always carry out an assessment to assess the overall health of the teeth before we agree to a course of whitening treatment. In some cases we recommend an appointment with the hygienist prior to treatment.