Tooth Whitening

Tooth whitening can be a very effective way of lightening the natural colour of your teeth without removing any of the tooth surface. It cannot make a complete colour change, but it may lighten the existing shade.

There are a number of reasons why you might get your teeth whitened. Everyone is different; and 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 more discoloured as we get older.

Your teeth can also be stained on the surface by food and drinks such as tea, coffee, red wine and blackcurrant. Smoking can also stain teeth.

‘Calculus’ or tartar can also affect the colour of your teeth. Some people may have staining under the surface, which can be caused by certain antibiotics or by tiny cracks in the teeth which take up stains.

Professional tooth bleaching is the most commonly used method for whitening teeth. Dental team will assess your suitability for the treatment and supervise it if you are eligible. Initially, they will place a rubber shield or apply a gel on your gums to protect them. Then, they will use a specially designed tray, resembling a mouthguard, to apply the whitening product onto your teeth.

Typically, the whitening product contains hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide as the active ingredient. As the active ingredient breaks down, oxygen penetrates the tooth enamel, resulting in a lighter tooth color.

Laser whitening, also known as ‘power whitening,’ involves placing a rubber dam over your teeth to protect the gums and applying a bleaching product to your teeth. A light or laser is then used to shine on the teeth, activating the chemical. The light accelerates the reaction of the whitening product, enabling a quicker achievement of the desired color change. Laser whitening can lighten teeth by up to five or six shades.