How Exactly Does Teeth Whitening Work?

Tooth whitening is an extremely safe and very effective procedure that can transform your smile and boost your self-confidence.

Here at the Lodge Dental Practice, my team and I are seeing increasing numbers of people coming to us for advice on how to brighten their smile, so I have put together this short article explaining how teeth whitening works and what happens during the process.

What is teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening treatments use hydrogen peroxide to break down molecules that stain the teeth. As these molecules become smaller, they can be separated from the tooth which gives an overall brightening effect. Although it cannot make teeth brilliantly white, it can lighten teeth by several shades and make a significant difference to your smile.

Do I need to visit a dentist for teeth whitening treatments?
Although whitening products are available to purchase online, there are several reasons why I would not recommend going down this route. To maintain the integrity of your smile and prevent damage, it is important to always know precisely what is in every treatment applied to your teeth which is something that is not always possible with products purchased online.

Additionally, legislation means that the concentration of the bleach solutions you can purchase is comparatively weak to those that can be prescribed by professional dentists. A 0.1% concentration is simply not strong enough to whiten your teeth and you are likely to be disappointed by the results. It is also important to have your teeth assessed by a dental professional prior to undergoing any treatment to ensure that you are an ideal candidate and can obtain the results you desire.

Whitening treatments administered by dental professionals are safe and will not cause any damage to your enamel. Our custom fit trays will also ensure that the whitening gel will not leak out on to your gums or into your mouth, and will instead properly coat your teeth to deliver the best possible results.

What does the teeth whitening process involve?
For the most common form of teeth whitening you will need to make several trips to the surgery over the period of a few months. After an initial consultation in which I will assess your suitability for treatment, I will take an impression of your teeth to create a custom mouth guard. I will then run you through how to apply the bleaching gel, and provide you with a time frame as to how long the process will take to achieve your desired results.

Some dental surgeries also offer laser whitening. During this treatment, a bleaching solution is painted onto your teeth before a laser or light is shone onto them, which activates the whitening process.

Are there any risks?
All treatments carry some level of risk and there is always a chance that your gums might be sensitive to some of the chemicals used during the process. Overall, however, teeth whitening is very safe and effective, and many patients don’t experience any side effects at all.

Temporary tooth sensitivity is the most common side effect, but symptoms usually subside within 48 hours. I am also frequently asked whether bleaching gels are safe, and the answer is yes. If any gel were to leak from your mouth guard, the enzymes in your saliva will neutralise the whitening solution.

During your treatment, particularly at the beginning, you might notice some white spots appearing on your teeth. This can happen after the first few days and although it can be alarming, after three or four days the colour of your teeth will even out and the spots should completely disappear.

If you have any questions about teeth whitening or would like to book in for a consultation to discuss your options in more detail, please contact our friendly team here at The Lodge on 01730 266 350.