What is tooth whitening?

Tooth whitening can be a very effective way of lightening the natural color of your teeth without removing any of the tooth surfaces. It cannot make a complete color change, but it may lighten the existing shade.

Why would I need my teeth whitened?

Maybe you’ve always wanted a beautiful white smile. Or your teeth have yellowed over time. Or you’re not happy with the staining that results from drinking coffee, tea or cola.

What are the whitening procedures?

There is now laser whitening or ‘power whitening’. During this procedure a rubber dam is put over your teeth to protect the gums, and a bleaching product is painted onto your teeth. Then a light or laser is shone on the teeth to activate the chemical. The light speeds up the reaction of the whitening product and the color change can be achieved more quickly. Laser whitening is said to make teeth up to five or six shades lighter.

How can I look after my teeth once they have been whitened?

You can help to keep your teeth white by cutting down on the amount of food and drink you have that can stain teeth. We recommend the following tips to care for your teeth:

• brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks. 
• visit your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend.

Apart from that, we also recommend patients who have undergone laser whitening treatment to get a home kit whitening tray to maintain its’ new color. This means regularly applying the whitening product over two to four weeks, for 30 minutes to one hour at a time. However, there are now some new products which can be applied for up to eight hours at a time. This means you can get a satisfactory result in as little as one week.

Video – Teeth Whitening