Teeth whitening frequently asked questions

Teeth whitening is a widely known cosmetic dental procedure. Although a lot of people have undergone this cosmetic dental procedure, there are still several people who do not fully understand what teeth whitening entails.

If you want to whiten your teeth, these teeth whitening FAQs and their answers will help you understand the process.

Do the treatments for teeth whitening work?

Yes, they do. If you undergo a teeth whitening with a trained dentist, it works perfectly. Teeth whitening treatments involve using a gel that contains a peroxide compound. The peroxide-based gel releases oxygen, which penetrates the hard surface of a tooth, called enamel and whitens it.

Is it safe to whiten the teeth?

Yes, it is. Teeth whitening is a safe treatment option if you do it properly. It is an illegal act for anyone besides a certified dental professional to carry out a teeth whitening treatment.

Dental professionals include dental hygienist, dental therapists, dentists, and dental technicians. They must be registered with the General Dental Council to practice.

How are professional teeth whitening different from over-the-counter kits?

Teeth whitening treatments bought at supermarkets or local drug stores contain about 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. Over-the-counter whitening products with hydrogen peroxide above this set percentage is illegal.

Low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide do not give stable results like the professional teeth whitening because the professional treatments use hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of about 6%.

The dental professional has to examine your teeth to determine if you are suitable to receive teeth whitening with a bleaching gel that contains that high concentration of hydrogen peroxide.

Over-the-counter whitening products are usually abrasive, and some wear off the enamel. They may make your teeth look brighter at first, but the long-term effect may be loss of tooth surface.

Do teeth whitening treatment hurt?

Teeth whitening does not hurt, but you may experience mild sensitivity during or after your initial treatment. The sensitivity should wear off after a few days. If you continue to experience sensitivity for a long time, contact your dentist.

Your dentist may recommend desensitising toothpaste or other suitable products. The high-quality teeth whitening products dentist use, usually have anti-sensitivity ingredients to help prevent teeth sensitivity.

Can I whiten my teeth?

Most persons are suitable for teeth whitening treatment, but you may not be suitable for the treatment if you have any dental issue like tooth decay or gum disease.

How do in-practice teeth whitening differ from at-home teeth whitening?

You can carry out your teeth whitening in-practice or at home. An in-practice teeth whitening requires a dentist to have a two-hour whitening session with you. Afterwards, you may need a top-up kit for about a week at home to ensure the whitening result lasts longer.

An at-home teeth whitening will involve you receiving the whitening kit form your dentist for use at home. You will apply the bleaching gel yourself, and it takes about 2 – 3 weeks to get your desired result.

Will whitening change the colour of my restoration?

No, it would not. Whitening is only effective on natural teeth. Your dental restoration, like crowns, dentures, and fillings, will remain the same after your whitening treatment.

What is the duration of whitening?

An in-practice teeth whitening requires approximately two hours, but you will also need to use a top-up whitening kit for about one week. This helps the result to remain permanent. At-home whitening kits require about 2 – 3 weeks for you to achieve your desired result.

How white will my teeth be?

The result of teeth whitening varies between persons. The effect of the whitening treatment will depend on the initial shade of the teeth. Your dentist will tell you what shade to expect after your treatment.

Philips Zoom, an in-practice teeth whitening product can make the teeth lighter by up to 6 shades within an hour.

How long do the effect of teeth whitening last?

If your teeth whitening is done correctly, the effect would be permanent. You would only need periodic top-ups at home after 6 – 9 months. You can get the top-up whitening gel from your dentist.

You can also top-up after your treatment with an at-home teeth whitening kit.

If you have any question about teeth whitening or you want to get your teeth whitened, contact Teeth Whitening London now on 020 70434315.