What is the best way to get your teeth whitened?

What is the best way to get your teeth whitened?

01st February 2019

Teeth whitening is a popular procedure in the UK, with more and more Brits improving their smiles by choosing this procedure. If you’re thinking about joining them, then you might be wondering about the best way to do it. So, in this post, we’ll look at the best (and worst) ways to whiten your teeth.

Ways you shouldn’t get your teeth whitened

First, we’ll go over the whitening methods to avoid.

• Beauty salons. Some beauty salons in the UK offer a teeth whitening treatment on top of their usual treatments, such as manicures and pedicures. But did you know that it’s illegal for beauty salons to offer teeth whitening? By law, only dental professionals are allowed to provide teeth whitening treatment to the public. This is because the procedure can be dangerous if done incorrectly – it can damage your enamel or even burn your gums. So, if a beauty salon offers to whiten your teeth, run away!
• Whitening toothpaste. Many brands of toothpaste will claim to whiten your teeth. Just take a look at the rows and rows of packets of toothpaste in any supermarket, and you’ll see “whitening” or “whiter teeth” on the front of many, if not most, of them. However, it’s not a good idea to rely on toothpaste to whiten your teeth, and this is for two reasons. The first reason is that it’s not very effective – toothpaste can only whiten your teeth by one or two shades at most, which is very little compared to a dental whitening treatment, which can brighten your teeth by several shades. The second reason is that whitening toothpaste contains abrasive materials that wear down the enamel on your teeth. This can cause sensitivity and it can even make your teeth more susceptible to cavities. So we suggest giving whitening toothpaste a pass.
• DIY kits. There are DIY whitening kits available online (we won’t tell you how to find them, but they’re not hard to find). These kits promise that you’ll be able to whiten your teeth from the comfort of your own home for less than what the dentist is charging. However, we strongly recommend against using these kits, and that’s because they’re unsafe. Teeth whitening shouldn’t be done at home; it should be done under the supervision of a healthcare professional. If the mouth guard doesn’t fit you properly, for example, then the gel might leak onto your gums and tongue, which can cause blisters.

Ways you should get your teeth whitened

The only safe and effective place to get your teeth whitened is at a dental clinic. What’s more, dental clinics are also the only place where the NHS recommends getting your teeth whitened.

Many dental clinics now offer teeth whitening treatments, including our own. Take a look at our teeth whitening page if you’d like more information. And if you’re interested in our whitening treatment, then don’t be shy! Give us a call for more information, or book an appointment with one of our dentists.