A beautiful, dazzling smile is no longer a privilege reserved for wealthy celebs. Now we all can attain a beautiful smile either at home or by visiting a dental professional! From high street dentists offering the very latest in cosmetic treatments to whitening kits you can pick up in any chemist or supermarket. There are many ways to achieve your dream smile, but which one is right for you? Here you’ll get the lowdown on the best teeth whitening options out there.
Visiting your dentist
When you visit your local dentist – for Dentists in Surrey, check out the link – your dentist can also offer options in order to get the best result. Each dental practice is different, but here are a couple of examples of procedures that are quite common.
Power/Speed Whitening with intense light
One way, is to have gel with a high hydrogen peroxide content, placed over your teeth. This bleaching gel is then placed under a bright light and you are left for 15 minutes for this to work. This is then repeated two or three times – this procedure can take up to around an hour.
The result is usually 2-3 shades lighter than your current colour and this can last for up to three years. There are few drawbacks: during the procedure: you have to wear a mouth guard to keep the gel away from the gums, which can feel slightly uncomfortable, and there may be sensitivity for a day or two.
You may not be suitable for this treatment if you have ‘synthetic teeth’ (veneers, crowns or a bridge), are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have sensitive teeth.
Over the counter bleaching kits
These kits are available in many supermarkets and in larger chemist stores and they usually contain a mouth guard that you fill with the provided gel. Even though these use bleaching gel, the hydrogen peroxide content is much much lower than what you would get at a Dental Practice whitening session. This is due to EU restrictions.
The kits – which cost £25 to £50, depending on the brand – have little effect to start with, compared to professional treatments. You could experience short-term gum and teeth sensitivity, and the mild acids in the gel may cause mouth ulcers. In theory, anyone can use an over-the-counter kit because the level of bleaching chemical is very low, but you may not want to risk it if you have false teeth made from synthetic material
Whitening toothpastes
You can pick up whitening toothpastes in any supermarket and most tend to rely on their stain removing properties to achieve a seemingly brighter smile. The effects last until the next cigarette or coffee, but used regularly they will keep stains at bay.
Whitening toothpastes cost from a couple of pounds to £20, but only a small number have been shown to be effective at removing stains. So it may be worth saving up all your toothpaste and home whitening kits and speaking to a dental professional about brightening your smile!
