Teeth whitening myths

You can expect great results from tooth whitening to last a couple of years if looked after well. Your lifestyle can affect how long your results last, such as food and drinks with strong colours that can stain teeth or not brushing well enough, as well habits such as smoking. Seeing your hygienist regularly will help to remove the stains that cause your shade to drop and also top ups are advised every 6 months for one night. This will help to keep that tooth shade looking white.

Not everyone is eligible. Pregnant and breast-feeding mothers can’t bleach their teeth. If you need any fillings or dental treatment, this should be addressed first. You have to legally be over 18 to have your teeth whitened and if you have inflamed or bleeding gums you will have to make sure they are healthier before starting.

The myth behind charcoal toothpaste is supposedly that as well as being abrasive, the activated charcoal can absorb stains. There is not much evidence to support this in toothpaste and from experience it doesn’t work. Making your teeth appear black and then rinsing them to reveal your teeth underneath will no doubt give you a temporary feeling of increased whiteness, but this may be nothing more than a temporary placebo.

Legally, over the counter products can only contain a maximum amount of 0.01% hydrogen peroxide. This is not enough to establish a good tooth whitening result. Professional tooth whitening carried out by a dental professional can contain more, proven to give a tooth whitening result whilst remaining safe to use. Products bought from the internet or from other countries may not be in line with strict UK regulations when it comes to bleaching teeth. As a consequence, they may not be safe to use. Only get tooth whitening done via a GDC registered dental professional.

Professional tooth whitening products such as Smile White, are designed by dentists to be safe and effective. In the UK we have stricter guidelines with tooth bleaching then some other countries. The products we use at Smile White contain Carbamide Peroxide which releases hydrogen peroxide to a specific percentage to whiten enamel safely. It doesn’t affect the structure of enamel at all. Infact, the hydrogen peroxide releases converts into water in its chemical reaction and releases oxygen. Water and oxygen are safe elements that we use in our day-to-day activities, they are not likely to cause damage to teeth enamel.