Teeth Whitening is a safe and cost-effective way of enhancing the appearance of your teeth. Teeth Whitening treatments are only safe when carried out by a dental professional. For more information about safe teeth whitening visit www.bda.org/public/whitening.

The entire process can usually be done in around three or four weeks. It begins with two or three visits to the dentist, where impressions will be taken of your mouth and teeth for your custom-made whitening trays to be made.

When they are ready you will be invited into the practice to collect your trays and whitening gel. We will also tell you everything you need to know before starting your treatment at home.

The benefits of tooth whitening could last up to three years, this can vary from person-to-person. The effect is less likely to last as long if you smoke or eat/drink products that can stain your teeth.

Everyone’s teeth are naturally varying in colour and shade and many day-to-day lifestyle choices will cause our teeth to stain. Drinking red wine or black coffee, eating sauce-based foods and smoking will stain your teeth. Teeth whitening will naturally and safely lighten your teeth by many shades.

Teeth whitening is a procedure which lightens the natural colour of your teeth without removing any of the tooth. Bleaching with hydrogen peroxide is the most usual method of tooth whitening. Following instruction by your dentist you will apply the whitening product to your teeth, using a specially made tray which fits into your mouth like a mouthguard. As the bleaching agent is broken down, oxygen then enters the enamel on the teeth and the tooth colour is made lighter.

Tooth whitening is very safe and predictable when prescribed by a dentist. The gels are made up of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). When this breaks down it forms water (H2O) and oxygen (O2) and this makes it harmless. It is the oxygen (O2) which helps brighten the teeth.

Always whiten your teeth under the guidance of a dentist. If whitening products are overused or used incorrectly, the peroxide in the whitening gel can wear away tooth enamel and irritate the nerves in your teeth. When purchasing the whitening gel, your dentist will always provide a safe product, with the correct percentage of bleaching agent for your teeth.

Some people experience sensitivity when teeth whitening. Use a specially formulated toothpaste such as Sensodyne and take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as paracetamol or Ibuprofen.

Your teeth may be sensitive or more sensitive than usual after the teeth whitening procedure. This is because the dentin in your teeth can become more exposed after the bleaching procedure which can caused an increased sensitivity to hot or cold sensations. You can use sensitive toothpaste and take over the counter painkillers to help until the sensitivity decreases but do talk to your dentist if you have any concerns.