Teeth whitening – a guide to your options (2024)

Teeth whitening–a guide to your options

Teeth whiteningis a big business in the UK which is growing year on year. Especially with the recent “Zoom Boom”as a result ofthe pandemic, there is an increasing focus on getting that brighter, whiter smile as well as other cosmetic treatments to enhance an individual’s facial features. However, with so much choiceonthe market, how do you know which is the best and safesttooth whiteningmethod for you? We have all seen the worrying reports over recent months where individuals have sufferedfrom tooth and/or gum damageas a result ofusing ineffective and unsafetooth whiteningproducts. Therefore,DD have put together a guide to assist you in making an informed choicewhen it comes towhitening.

What causes discolouration of teeth?

It is useful to identify thecommon causesof tooth discolourationbefore attempting to decide which is the besttooth whiteningmethod for you. Common causes include:

Ageing– your teeth naturally get darkeror yelloweras your get older due to the outer enamel layer getting thinner and the inner dentine(yellow)layergetting thicker.
Food and drink stains– tea, coffee, red wine,brightly coloured sauces,turmericandberriesare all examples which contribute to staining.
Smoking–nicotine and tar in tobacco can causetoothstaining very quickly.
Tooth decay–this can change the colour of your teeth and cause cavitiestoo.
Plaque and tartar– this can build up on your teeth daily and therefore it is important to brush and floss regularlyto avoid thebuild up.

Braces– plaque and tartarcanbuild up around brackets and wireswhich cancause discolouration iforal hygieneis poor during braces wear.

Teeth whiteningoptions

Several “natural”tooth whiteningmethodsappear to be floating around on social media channelsincluding using charcoal toothpastes, coconut oil pulling, apple cider vinegar and even using mashed strawberries! The evidencesupportingthesemethodsis weakand it is worth noting that some of the above-mentionedwhiteningmethods could potentially damage your teeth irreversibly such as apple cider vinegarwhich contains a high content of acid and can erode your teeth making them thinner and more sensitive.

Therefore, it is advisable to get a professional opinion from a qualified and registered dental professional before embarking ontooth whitening. They are best placed to assess your individual needs and talk you through the most optimal optionsforwhiteningto suit you.They will also remind you thatwhiteningwill only work on natural teeth – so any dentures, fillings, veneers,crownsor implants will not change colour using the methods described below. The only way to change the colour of these is to have them replaced and matched up to yourbrightened natural teeth following atoothwhiteningprocess.

Whiteningtreatment	Advantages	Disadvantages
In-surgerybleachingcarried out by a dental professional	Excellent results within 1-2 hours	May fade quickly Can be expensive
Takehomebleachingkitsprescribed by a dental professional	Excellent results – can often combinethiswith in-surgerywhiteningtreatments Usually less expensive than in-surgerywhitening Results usually last longer than in-surgerywhiteningalone Whiteningtrays will be fitted exactly to match your teeth, so less leakageof bleach islikely	Takes1-8 hoursperday depending on the product used and concentration ofwhiteningbleachused Costlyin comparison to the belowwhiteningmethods
At homebleachingkits,not prescribedby a dental professional	Convenient and affordable	Results are not as strong as professionally prescribed hometoothwhiteningdue to the lower concentration of bleach used Traysusually need to be moulded by you at home and therefore may not fit perfectly If a dental professional has not been consulted prior to using, the safety and efficacy could be questionable
Whiteningstrips	Convenient and affordable	Weak evidence supporting that theyactually work Can get uneven coverageofwhitening If a dental professional has not been consulted prior to using, the safety and efficacy could be questionable
Whiteningpens	Convenient and affordable	Weak evidence supporting that theyactually work If a dental professional has not been consulted prior to using, the safety and efficacy could be questionable
Whiteningtoothpastes	Convenient and affordable	Can be abrasive Only likely to remove surface staining

Whichproduces the besttooth whiteningresults?

This will vary from person to person, however in most cases to get noticeable and lasting results, some formofbleach (hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide) needs to be usedwhenwhiteningteeth.

Will I suffer from sensitivity?

Some people experience unbearablesensitivityduring and sometimes afterwhitening,but this usuallyaffectspeople who have suffered from sensitive teeth prior toteeth whitening.This is whyit is best to consult a professional prior to embarking on any of the abovewhiteningoptions. They can advise you on suitable options for pain reliefsuch as potassium nitrate or fluoride-based desensitisingtoothpastes.

Istooth whiteningsafe?

The safest way to whiten teeth is through an approveddentalprofessionalwho istrained to carry out variouswhiteningprocedures andcanalso identify cases wherewhiteningis notrecommended.The law is very clear on who canand what can be used towhiten teeth:

It is illegal fortooth whiteningproducts which contain more than 6% hydrogen peroxide or for any associated products which release greater than 6% hydrogen peroxide to be supplied or administered for cosmetic purposes.
Tooth whitening products containing or releasing between0.1%-6% hydrogen peroxide should not be made directly available to the consumer, other than through treatment by a registered dentist(or dental hygienist or dental therapist or clinical dental technicians working to a dentist’s prescription). Breach of these regulations is a criminal offence.
Products containing or releasing between 0.1% and 6% hydrogen peroxide cannot be used on any person under 18 years of age except where such use is intended wholly for the purpose of treating or preventing disease.
Products containing orreleasing less than 0.1% of hydrogen peroxide, including mouth rinse, toothpaste andtooth whiteningor bleaching products are safe and will continue to befreely available on the market.

Conclusion

Whicheverteeth whiteningoption you choose, make sure you do your research first andanalyse impartial user reviews, scientific evidence about thewhiteningproduct(s) and seek advice from a dental professional prior to commencementofteeth whitening.Also remember that different people will have different experiences and results.Additionally, the length of time thewhiteningresultswill last for will vary depending on a person’s lifestyle and habits.

Teeth whitening – a guide to your options (2024)