Teeth Whitening – Is it Safe and What are the Options?
Teeth whitening is a popular treatment for people who want to look their best (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t?) Whether it’s for your big day, or you just want to feel fabulous every day, having a beautiful, bright, white smile can give you the confidence to know your teeth aren’t letting the team down.
How Do Teeth Discolour?
Long-term poor dental hygiene practices are not the only cause of discoloured teeth. There are a variety of factors that may contribute to why your pearly whites aren’t looking so bright.
Your teeth enamel has tiny pores just like a sponge. With constant exposure to the pigments and colours in the food, drink and anything else that goes into your mouth, the tiny pores will absorb and be externally stained, resulting in discoloured teeth. Some common lifestyle factors that may be discolouring your pearly whites are: the daily coffee, your favourite glass of red wine, and smoking.
While less common, there could also be genetic factors and certain medications which may contribute to discolouration, so getting a professional to assess your teeth will be important to understanding the best solution for you.
Teeth Whitening Treatments
Our highly trained, friendly team are best equipped with the knowledge to identify which whitening treatment will be best for you based on the cause of discolouration, your lifestyle and desired results.
There are two primary methods used to whiten teeth; in-office whitening or home kits.
1. In-Office Whitening
At our clinic, we use the Phillips Zoom whitening system. Providing instant noticeable results, this painless procedure can remove years of staining within only 45 minutes. After your professional clean, the whitening procedure will involve applying a specially formulated gel containing hydrogen peroxide to your teeth. The gel is then activated with a special light, lifting and removing stains from your teeth resulting in immediate whitening.
2. Home Kits
Don’t have the time and prefer to complete your teeth whitening at home? We have two home whitening systems available, the Opalescence Go and Philips Zoom Day White.
If you would prefer the home teeth whitening kits, our dental team can create custom mouth trays from impressions of your teeth.
For best results, your whitening trays should be worn with the gel applied for 30 minutes a day, until the desired shade is reached or up to one week. However, everyone is different, so please consult with our team for the treatment method and duration!
How Often Should Teeth Whitening Be Done?
Your whitening treatment offers long-term results, however the duration before you want to refresh again will vary, depending on the method of whitening undertaken and your personal lifestyle. In-office treatment results will usually last around 3 years, whereas the take home kits have an average result of 1 year before refreshing is required. Regular teeth cleaning at your dentist and avoiding coffee, red wine and smoking will also prolong the length of time that your teeth remain white.
Is Teeth Whitening Safe?
With years of extensive study to back it up, teeth whitening is considered a safe treatment.
If used per instructions, your home whitening kit from our dental clinic are perfectly safe. You will be provided with detailed instructions on how to safely apply the whitening gel, including the amount to use and duration of application. We caution you to never buy home kits online as the quality and expiration dates of ingredients cannot be trusted.
During your in-office whitening treatment, our highly qualified and trained team will ensure your dental health is protected at all times. Measures are taken to ensure your gums are kept healthy and happy while your teeth are brightened. You can rest assured your bright white smile is completely safe in our professional care.
At Maudsland Dental Care, safety of your teeth is always our primary concern, and we will never use products that pose a risk to our patients.
To discuss your teeth whitening options for a brighter smile, call us to book an appointment today on 07 5580 0621.
