If you are looking for a treatment which will give your teeth a lift prior to this summer’s weddings, family events or holidays, why not consider teeth whitening a safe and effective way of lightening the natural colour of your teeth, without damaging your teeth and gums. Teeth whitening can lighten stains caused by food, drinks and smoking. It can also improve staining caused by certain antibiotics and the general ageing process and provides a great way to enhance your smile.
Following a consultation to ensure that you are suitable for the treatment, dentists are able to offer two main types of tooth whitening treatment
In Surgery tooth whitening
Treatment will take between thirty minutes and an hour and during this time the dentist will apply the whitening gel to your teeth either directly or using a custom made whitening tray. The solution is then activated using a special light. This process will be repeated 2 or 3 times in a session and you should see results instantly. It is normally advised that this is followed with a course of at home tooth whitening to get the best possible results.
At home tooth whitening
This treatment can be completed in the comfort of your own home at a time to suit you. Custom made whitening trays will be designed from impressions taken of your teeth. The dentist will then show you how to apply the whitening gel to the trays and will explain how long you will need to wear the trays. There are a number of different strength whitening gels available that will allow the treatment to fit best into your schedule, whether you want to wear the trays for an hour, or overnight while you sleep. Ensuring that you receive the results you are looking for in time to suit you.
In 2012 new regulations where brought into effect, stating that teeth whitening is a dental procedure and as such should only be carried out by qualified dental professionals. Regulation was also bought into effect to limit the strength of the whitening solutions used. Dentists can use solutions up to a maximum of 6% hydrogen peroxide whereas over the counter products and kits can only contain 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. This would be considered too low to have any noticeable effect on the colour of your teeth. So if you are looking for a safe and effective way to whiten your teeth consider asking your dentist at your next appointment.
Oral Hygiene
Alongside whitening treatment, it is a good idea to ensure that you follow a good oral hygiene routine.
Be sure to brush your teeth twice a day using fluoride toothpaste.
Don’t forget to clean in between your teeth, either with floss or interdental brushes once a day
Eat a balanced diet and limit the number of snacks you have between meals
Book in to see your dentist or hygienist for a thorough scale and polish to remove any surface staining or plaque and calculus deposits
Consider stopping smoking to reduce the amount of staining on your teeth
Here at Leigh Dental Centre we use the Pola Advanced Teeth Whitening System which is clinically proven to give fast and effective treatment. There are a variety of different systems available and the dentist will be happy to discuss this with you to find the best possible treatment to suit your needs.
For some patients we also may recommend Opalescence Tooth Whitening System which is a professional teeth whitener that gives professional results. Opalescence tooth whitening gels contain potassium nitrate and fluoride and potassium nitrate which is proven to help reduce teeth sensitivity whereas fluoride helps reduce decay and also helps strengthen your teeth.
If you would like to book an appointment for tooth whitening call Leigh Dental Centre on 01702 472929 and one of our team will be happy to assist you. We are currently running a competition to win free teeth whitening see our website for more details.
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