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For years, dangerous ‘over the counter’ tooth whitening systems have given home teeth whitening a bad name. However, when you visit your dentist, teeth whitening is a completely safe and effective way of improving your smile without damaging your teeth.
Usually, home teeth whitening lasts for between a year and 3 years, depending on your lifestyle. For example, people that regularly consume highly coloured foods, drink coffee, tea, red wine and fizzy drinks, or smoke are likely to require more frequent teeth whitening than people who avoid naturally staining foods and substances. The same things that stained the teeth before bleaching can cause the teeth to become discoloured again. Some people prefer to have touch-ups every year, or as frequently as every 6 months.
Bleaching under the supervision of a dentist is safe for the teeth and the gums. As the trays are custom made for each patient, there is much less risk of whitening gel leaking out and causing damage to the gums. The gel that is used changes the colour of the teeth without damaging their structure.
Some shop bought teeth whitening systems contain a very dangerous acidic rinse which can burn the gums and remove significant parts of the tooth structure, causing permanent damage. In many cases, whitening treatment that is sold over the counter, or performed by non-dentists uses dangerous chemicals such as chlorine dioxide and sodium perborate. To achieve the best results and in safety, you should visit a dentist who can provide custom trays, ensuring total teeth coverage and more powerful peroxide. People that use trays that don’t fit properly are also more likely to suffer from sensitive teeth.
Home teeth whitening kits using custom made trays and professional strength whitening gel can whiten the teeth up to 8 shades in around 14 days.
To achieve the desired results of teeth that are returned to their natural colour, home teeth whitening kits are usually provided for 14 days, which is usually long enough to see the desired results.
Dentists provide custom fitted trays for you to wear for as little as half an hour per day. To create trays that fit perfectly onto your teeth, your dentist takes an impression of your teeth. Teeth whitening gel is then applied to every compartment of the tray to ensure that all teeth are sufficiently covered during whitening treatment – any excess gel should be carefully wiped away from the gums.
