Seven things you didn’t know about tooth whitening
Tooth whitening is becoming more popular and we feel it would be helpful to share these seven facts with you that have been produced by the British Dental Association. If you are interested in tooth whitening please speak to Mandy or another member of the team.
1. WHITENING IS SAFE.
If carried out by a trained dental professional, whitening is perfectly safe. Based on their knowledge of your oral health your dentist will discuss with you the options available and decide if tooth whitening is appropriate for you.
2. ONLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS CAN WHITEN TEETH.
It is illegal for anyone other than dentists or their teams to carry out tooth whitening. Anyone else offering teeth whitening (e.g. beauticians, hairdressers and salon staff won’t have the right training and knowledge and could permanently damage your teeth and gums and can’t help you when something goes wrong.
3. THE PREFERRED OPTION.
Whitening won’t remove the surface of your teeth or change their shape. Its often a better option than alternatives such as veneers because it doesn’t involve permanently altering the tooth’s structure and is easy to look after.
4. SELECTING THE RIGHT PRODUCT FOR YOU.
Your dentist is trained to know what whitening products will be safe for your teeth and gums. Products provided by non- dentists often do not have enough safety data and evidence to support their use; this can result in burned gums and/or blistered lips or even more serious consequences. Using products that are not appropriate for you will produce poor results.
5. HOW IT WORKS.
A carefully controlled concentration of bleach is applied to your teeth using specially-made trays that fit in your mouth. Your dentist will be able to discuss with you the level of whitening you want and give you an idea of how many treatments you may need to achieve the shade you’re after.
6. WHAT TO EXPECT.
You may experience some sensitivity for a short time during your treatment, but this is normal and will soon fade away after completion.
7. OVER THE COUNTER KITS MAY NOT BE SAFE.
The products that you can buy online or from high street shops often fail to declare the precise chemicals used so it is often difficult to assess their safety. Because of this they should not be considered safe. These products won’t produce the same good results as can expect by visiting your dentist.