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Professional Tooth Whitening in the UK in the 21st Century

Tooth Whitening

There have been many developments in the UK over recent times with regards to tooth whitening. This subject even confuses many dental professionals as to what is and what isn't acceptable. Here I will direct you through some of the commonly asked questions I come across so that you can make informed choices if you are thinking about having tooth whitening. You'll know all the ins and outs, the risks and the benefits so you can decide if it is right for you.

Tooth Whitening History and Safety

Modern day professional tooth whitening is typically carried out using Carbamide Peroxide or Hydrogen Peroxide. The effectiveness of these agents was discovered quite by accident. Dentists were using Carbamide Peroxide to aid with gum healing following surgery, and found that the teeth were being made whiter. Many other agents have been used but Carbamide Peroxide and Hydrogen Peroxide give the best long term results and most importantly are safe to the teeth.

So is tooth whitening safe? It can be, but it isn't always.

It is advisable that a suitably trained dentist/dental professional carries out tooth whitening. The General Dental Council agree and they have taken illegal tooth whiteners through the legal system.

Firstly a diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan needs to be made. They also need to be aware of the pros and cons of the system being recommended. Only someone with a thorough understanding of the anatomy and physiology of teeth and the soft tissues etc. can make this judgement.

The choice of tooth whitening product is important. It has to be safe, effective and give good results. Hydrogen Peroxide and Carbamide Peroxide have the best track record (in both safety and effectiveness), however if the concentration is too low it will not be effective. The only people who are allowed to prescribe it in concentrations that are effective are dentists.

Warning

Some of the systems used by non-dentists give immediate spectacular results. Chlorine Dioxide for example makes teeth very white, but it is very acidic and strips the enamel from the teeth. It is NOT reversible. It damages the surface of the teeth such that they pick up staining very rapidly, and this is very difficult to remedy. They are left rough and often permanently sensitive.

I know a number of dentists who have asked at tooth whitening booths in shopping centres what they use, and have never had an answer. Some have even been escorted out by security! It concerns us greatly as a profession that people are allowing unknown chemicals to be applied to their teeth, by non-dental professionals.

Tooth Whitening Myths and facts

• Not all discolouration problems are due to the same cause, and so they need to be addressed in different ways. One size does not fit all!

• Others will judge us based on our appearance. We all know that a major part of the first impression we make is from our smile and state of our teeth.

• Yellow teeth are not stronger than white teeth.

• We don't want to make everyone's teeth look like white tombstones. We want to help people to have natural smiles which give them confidence.

• Whitening toothpastes do not often whiten the shade of teeth effectively; they reduce staining or reduce the amount of stain that collects.

• A lot of darker teeth can be improved by stain removal.

• A lot of over-the-counter whitening kits are ineffective and some (especially ones that do not come from the UK) can be harmful.

• 'In Surgery' whitening systems leave the teeth dehydrated, which means they look a lot whiter than they really are. The 'wow factor' quickly wears off.

• If your teeth get too white with 'In Surgery' systems there's nothing that can be done to reverse this quickly.

• The bright blue lights used as part of these systems offer little or no proven benefit. The benefit is predominately by warming the gel and speeding things up. There's a lot of hype and marketing that goes into them!

• 'At Home' systems tend to offer longer lasting results, with easier options for top-ups at later dates.

• Non-dental professions who offer tooth whitening often use unidentified chemicals, the effects of which are not known.

• Many non-dental professionals who carry out wisdom tooth pain relief whitening are breaking the law.

Why do teeth get dark

There are five main causes of teeth darkening/discolouration.

• Staining: The staining is normally on the surface of the teeth, or in small imperfections within the tooth surface. These rough areas also include deposits of calculus or tartar which accumulates over time.

Many foods and drinks cause staining. The main culprits are red wine, curry (especially those with turmeric), tea and coffee. There are lots of other foods can cause staining/darkening of teeth.

Of course, Smoking also causes staining.