Is Teeth Whitening Bad For Your Teeth
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Teeth Whitening in London
Teeth whitening has become very popular in London lately. At Whites Dental, our teeth whitening dentists offer a range of whitening options to our patients in London city including Zoom teeth whitening and Enlighten whitening. Teeth whitening comes in two types – home whitening and in-surgery instant teeth whitening. A vast proportion of people want their teeth to be whiter and brighter, but some are nervous about the effects of bleaching. So, is teeth whitening safe?
Teeth may be stained or discolored for several different reasons (age, coffee/tea/red wine lover, smoking to name a few). If you want to make them brighter and whiter, you can do so safely at your dental practice. Dentists typically offer two types of teeth whitening treatments – whitening that can be done within the surgery or whitening that can be done at home. At Whites Dental, our cosmetic dentists provide a wide range of professional teeth whitening treatments such as Philips Zoom home teeth whitening, Enlighten home whitening and Zoom instant in-surgery laser teeth whitening. Teeth whitening is very effective at whitening teeth and is designed specifically to create a brighter and whiter smile for the patient. Teeth whitening when executed well has the potential to transform a person’s self-esteem, giving them the confidence to smile again and interact confidently with their peers and colleagues.
While teeth whitening is considered safe, you may encounter some side effects from the treatment:
- Teeth sensitivity– following teeth whitening your teeth may become more sensitive. Normally, the sensitivity will diminish with time and does not last for long unless you have a pre-existing enamel problem that needs a dental check-up. They are a number of different things you can use/do to treat sensitive teeth after whitening which will discusses further below.
- Irritated gums– most people generally like the in-office whitening for their own peace of mind and knowing that the whitening is being done right. The concentration of bleach used in the dental clinic Is higher than the at-home methods. If the bleach comes into contact you’re your gums, it can cause gum irritation. And unfortunately, the higher the concentration, the greater potential for irritation However, this side effect should go away after your treatment. Bear in mind also that dental clinics do use special protection on your gums and roots to make sure the bleach remains harmless. An at-home method can either involve a dentist-prescribed system, which allows you to use a mouth guard-style tray to hold a gel in place; or an over-the-counter (OTC) product. This type of product can take the form of toothpaste, a rinse, trays or strips. The latter two are either custom-fitted or otherwise local to your teeth’s surfaces, and may therefore be appealing to those who already suffer from gum disease.
- And last but not least, teeth with decay, broken fillings and fractured structures can generate a more significant and lasting discomfort, but there is no damage to the enamel under these circumstances. There have been some cases suggesting bleach can affect dental amalgam – or silver fillings – causing them to release mercury.
Although many practices have chosen to discontinue this type of restoration, the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) assures that it is not a real health issue. Not only is dental amalgam benign in its mercury content, but the bleach will not destroy other dental restorations like crowns and implants. There is also no professional concern over its effect on white colour fillings; in fact, they may slightly whiten themselves.
The first step to have your teeth whitened is to find a good cosmetic dentist in London. Finding a good cosmetic dentist is really important as it gives you the confidence that you are having your teeth whitened from someone who’s done it many times in the past and can therefore help achieve superior results. At Whites Dental, we have some of London’s leading cosmetic dentists working with us offering a range of teeth whitening treatments in London. Why not arrange a consultation with one of them to see how we can help you whiten your smile. For more information on teeth whitening, see our whitening homepage here – https://www.whitesdental.co.uk/teeth-whitening/
Treating Sensitive Teeth After Teeth Whitening
Sometimes after whitening treatments, teeth can be sensitive. If this occurs you have certain options to reduce the pain-
- Change your regular toothpaste to a sensitivity one – sensitive toothpastes contain ingredients such as potassium nitrate to alleviate the pain associated with tooth sensitivity
- Chew gum – it has been found that the act of chewing may distract people from the pain and causes more saliva.
- Prevent whitening for a while – give your teeth a break and stop using whitening products.
Tips to Prevent Tooth Discoloration After Teeth Whitening
Once you have completed your whitening treatment, there are a few steps you can take to maintain your whiter smile.
- Abstain from having stain-causing foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, wine, hard candy, berries and tomato sauce which are all foods that can cause tooth discoloration. Just think of it this way.. anything that can stain your clothes or even hands will also have the potential to stain your teeth.
- Be fancy and use a straw when drinking beverages- this will keep stain-causing dyes away from your teeth.
- Quit smoking – smoking tobacco can cause teeth to become discolored. Eliminating tobacco can help keep your teeth bright.
- Maintain good oral hygiene– brush, floss and rinse your mouth regularly. This will help keep those kinds of discolouring agents from settling into the surface of your teeth — and decrease the chance for plaque to build up!
Find the Best Cosmetic Dentist in London
The first step to have your teeth whitened is to find a good cosmetic dentist in London. Finding a good cosmetic dentist is really important as it gives you the confidence that you are having your teeth whitened from someone who’s done it many times in the past and can therefore help achieve superior results. At Whites Dental, we have some of London’s leading cosmetic dentists working with us offering a range of teeth whitening treatments in London. Why not arrange a consultation with one of them to see how we can help you whiten your smile. For more information on teeth whitening, see our whitening homepage here – https://www.whitesdental.co.uk/teeth-whitening/
For further information, visit our teeth whitening page at https://www.whitesdental.co.uk/teeth-whitening/
Our teeth whitening dentists offer a range of teeth whitening systems such as Zoom Instant (LED) laser teeth whitening, Enlighten home whitening and Zoom home whitening. We are conveniently located in Central London in Waterloo, a short 1 minute walk from Southwark tube. We are also a short 5-10 minutes’ walk from Borough, London Blackfriars, Elephant and Castle, London Bridge and Southbank.